Matanomictis
Extinct genus of mustelid
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Matanomictis (lit. 'Matanomadh marten') is an extinct genus of mustelid that is known from Oligocene and possibly Miocene of Maniyara Fort Formation, India. The genus contains a single species, Matanomictis maniyarensis. It is currently the oldest known mustelid from Indian Subcontinent.[1]
| Matanomictis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Genus: | †Matanomictis Thewissen & Bajpai, 2008 |
| Species: | †M. maniyarensis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Matanomictis maniyarensis | |
Discovery and naming
The holotype of Matanomictis, IITR-SB 5135, a right mandible with p4 and m1, was discovered 1 km south of the Matanomadh village, the remains of dugongids like Bharatisiren indica are also known from the type locality.[1]
In 2008, Thewissen and Bajpai described the mandible as a new genus and species of mustelid, Matanomictis maniyarensis. The generic name "Matanomictis" is a combination of two words, "Matanom" after the Matanomadh village, which is located 1 km north of the type locality, and "ictis" is the Greek word for martens. The specific name "maniyarensis" is after the Maniyara Fort Formation, the geological formation where the type locality is situated.[1]
Classification
Matanomictis can be distinguished from other early carnivorans like amphicyonids like Pseudocyonopsis and Cynelos as both of these are larger, lack a diastema between p4 & m1 and have larger carnassial talonids, and early ursids like Pachycynodon as they are bunodont and have lower carnassial talonids compared to Matanomictis.[1]
Matanomictis can be confidently assigned to mustelids as its lower carnassial has a wide, long trigonid with a high protoconid, the m1 trigonid being only slightly longer than talnoid, a large hypoconid on a rounded talonid, and a diastema between the p4 and m1 teeth. However, it lacks the specialized features of any mustelid subfamily; for instance, it has a low carnassial as seen in lutrines, has a secondary cusp in last premolar as seen in melines, it lacks a high trigonid with a small metaconid and a short talonid but has anterior position of the metaconid, further distinguishing Matanomictis from other mustelids.[1]