LOPHOCYON PARASKEVAIDISI, A NEW VIVERRID (CARNIVORA, MAMMALIA) FROM THE MIDDLE MIOCENE OF CHIOS-ISLAND, GREECE

Among the material collected in 1991 and 1993 from the Middle Miocene locality of Thymiana, Chios island, a large number of specimens belong to a viverrid carnivore. This is the first discovery of a carnivore s pecies in this locality. All specimens were unearthed from one level ( level ''Thymiana B'' or THE) and represent a new species of the genus Lophocyon. The morphology of the upper and lower teeth of this species is very different from those of Sivanasua and Euboictis. The smaller size, the more molarized teeth and the less developed cingulum disting uish the Chios lophocyonine from the sole known species Lophocyon carp athicus (from the middle Miocene locality of Kosice-Baukov) and allow us to recognize a new species, named Lophocyon paraskevaidisi sp, nov.