RELATIONSHIPS OF BARBOUROFELIS-PIVETEAUI (OZANSOY, 1965), A LATE MIOCENE NIMRAVID (CARNIVORA, MAMMALIA) FROM CENTRAL TURKEY

An incomplete skull and associated mandible of ''Megantereon'' pivetea ui Ozansoy, 1965, from the Middle Sinap Formation (Vallesian Mammal Ag e, early late Miocene) of Turkey is one of the best preserved and perh aps the latest known record of the Nimravidae outside North America. I t shares many synapomorphies (such as the very specialized camassials, reduced P3s and lower canine, broad palate, large infraorbital forame n, and large masseter insertion) with North American Barbourofelis, an d is accordingly referred to this genus, which probably also includes B. vallesiensis (Beaumont and Crusafont, 1982) from the late Miocene o f Spain. Immigration of this group into North America may have taken p lace near the middle/late Miocene boundary.