New merycodonts from the upper Miocene of Nevada

In an Upper Miocene assemblage of mammals recently brought together, occur remains of numerous individuals referable to the genus Merycodus. The collection represents several seasons of palaeontological field work by parties from the California Institute of Technology in the vicinity of Tonopah, Nevada. The specimens of Merycodus exhibit characters that are not common to those of species described from other localities in the Great Basin Province or from West Coast Miocene and Pliocene deposits. In some respects, the new Nevada forms combine characters seen in M. furcatus and M. necatus, found in deposits of similar age. Differences of structure among the materials represented indicate the presence of two distinct species of Tonopah merycodonts. In a study of the new types, an analysis of the morphologic characters of the genus emphasizes the essentially constant premolar tooth pattern for Merycodus. As may be expected, greater diversity occurs among merycodont horn-core structures, particularly as to shape and size. However, the supraorbital position of the horn-cores is apparently constant within specific groups. In the present comparative studies, I am particularly indebted to Dr. Charles L. Camp and to Mr. R. A. Stirton of the Museum of Palaeontology, University of California, for the loan of Merycodus material. Mr. John L. Ridgway has prepared the drawings and has arranged the plates

Distribution and description of skull remains of the Pliocene antelope Sphenophalos from the northern Great Basin Province

With the progress of paleontological explorations in the later Tertiary deposits of the northern Great Basin Province by the California Institute of Technology in cooperation with Carnegie Institution of Washington additional materials of the antilocaprid genus Sphenophalos have been found. Of particular interest is the discovery of remains of this mammal in new Pliocene faunas of eastern Oregon, thus extending the known range of Sphenophalos. While no complete skull is available, the specimens collected include a number of horn-cores whose structure is of considerable significance in a determination of the genetic relationships of the genus

Capromeryx minor Taylor from the McKittrick Pleistocene, California

The occurrence of a Pleistocene vertebrate fauna in an asphalt deposit near McKittrick, California, has been reported by J. C. Merriam and C. Stock. Since the publication of the provisional list of mammals from this locality, several types new to the assemblage have been discovered in the deposit. Among these should be recorded the small antilocaprid, Capromeryx minor. This species occurs here in association with the prong-horn antelope Antilocapra. Three species of the genus Capromeryx are now known from the Pleistocene of North America. The type, C. furcifer, was described by Matthew from Hay Springs, Nebraska. C. minor Taylor occurs at Rancho La Brea, and C. mexicana Furlong is recorded from Tequixquiac, Mexico. The occurrence of C. minor at McKittrick extends the range of this species during the Pleistocene from the Los Angeles basin to the Great Valley of California. Members of the family Antilocapridre are apparently sparsely represented in the McKittrick fauna, as only one individual of Capromeryx has been found, while several individuals of Antilocapra are known to occur

Distribution and description of skull remains of the Pliocene antelope Sphenophalos from the northern Great Basin Province

With the progress of paleontological explorations in the later Tertiary deposits of the northern Great Basin Province by the California Institute of Technology in cooperation with Carnegie Institution of Washington additional materials of the antilocaprid genus Sphenophalos have been found. Of particular interest is the discovery of remains of this mammal in new Pliocene faunas of eastern Oregon, thus extending the known range of Sphenophalos. While no complete skull is available, the specimens collected include a number of horn-cores whose structure is of considerable significance in a determination of the genetic relationships of the genus

Fossil vertebrates from western North America and Mexico

Each paper also published separately.Bibilography at end of each paper except one.E. L. Furlong. The Pleistocene antelope. Stockoceros conklingi, from San Josecito Cave, Mexico.--E. R. Hall. A new genus of American Pliocene badger, with remarks on the relationships of badgers of the Northern Hemisphere.--L. R. David: Use of fossil fish scales in micropaleontology. Some typical upper Eocene fish scales from California. Upper Cretaceous fish remains from the western border of the San Joaquin Valley, California.--R. E. Wallace. A Miocene mammalian fauna from Beatty Buttes, Oregon.--E. L. Furlong. Generic identification of the Pleistocene antelope from Rancho La Brea.--Hildegarde Howard. A review of the Pleistocene birds of Fossil Lake, Oregon.Mode of access: Internet