Some fossil carnivores from the Makapansgat Valley

Abstract

All hitherto undescribed carnivore material from the Limeworks deposit at Makapansgat has been examined and is described. A new sub-species of Cynictis penicillata is defined and named C. penicillata brachyodon. A number of other fragments cannot be fully identified but include a jackal, probably closely related to the extant Canis adustus, a fox and three small felines. The status of Machaerodus darti Toerien is discussed and it is concluded that the specimens are not specifically distinct from Therailurus barlowi (Broom). The carnivore fauna of the Makapansgat deposit is compared with those of Sterkfontein and Swartkrans and the probable environments are discussed.