PLEISTOCENE VERTEBRATES FROM CUMBERLAND CAVE 41 



The teeth average somewhat smaller than in Qulo luscus, as noted 

 by Hall, although a few specimens were foimd in which the teeth 

 were definitely smaller than in the fossil form. The relatively wide 

 P3 in the fossil material was matched in some recent individuals but 

 this condition is uncommon in 6ulo luscus. 



The other bones of the skeleton, no. 8175, show but few peculiarities, 

 the principal ones being that the anterosuperior border of the scapula 

 is more rounded than in the hving species, and the shaft of the humerus 

 is slightly less curved. 



The record of Gulo in the Pleistocene of North America is very 

 incomplete, and the material for the most part has been referred to 

 the hving species, Gulo luscus. Several lower jaws of wolverine m 

 the Port Kennedy occurrence, beheved by Cope (1899, pp. 229-230) 

 to be specifically identical with Gulo luscus, are referred to Gulo 

 gidleyi by Hall. 



LUTBA PARVICUSPIS Gidley and Gazin ' 



Figure 21 



Type.— FoTtion of a broken and crushed skull (fig. 21), U.S.N.M. 

 no. 8213, in which the principal cheek teeth of both sides are present. 

 P^ the canines and incisors represented by their alveoU. 



Specific characters. — Size somewhat larger than Lutra canadensis. 

 Main outer cusps of M^ relatively lower and less robust than in L. 

 canadensis. P^ and P^ large with conspicuous posterointernal basin. 

 P* triangulate, with its base relatively wide anteriorly and with its 

 anterior border forming a right angle with the outer border of the 

 tooth. P* long and outer wall of M^ relatively short anteroposteriorly 

 as compared with L. canadensis. M^ with paracone and metacone 

 subequal and both cusps with relatively narrow extension of the 

 basal portions of their outer walls. 



Comparison.— The Cumberland Cave specimen represents an 

 extinct species of otter intermediate in size between L. canadensis of 

 the Eastern United States and L. jelina or L. paraensis of Chile and 

 Honduras, respectively. Judged by their alveoh the canines of the 

 Cumberland Cave specimen are relatively robust, as in the Hving 

 species of Central and South America. The backward extension of 

 the protocone shelf of the carnassial and the posterointernal shelf of 

 the other premolars is somewhat more expanded than in L. canadensis. 

 The posterior margin of the upper molar, as in some South American 

 specimens, is not so deeply notched posterouaternal to the metacone, 

 as noted in L. canadensis. Perhaps the most noticeable distinction in 

 the dentition of L. parvicuspis is the distmctly narrow proportions of 

 the external cusp row of M^ 



Although L. parvicuspis is distinct from both North American and 

 South American otters, it approaches hving species of South America 



? Qidley and Oazin, 1933, pp. 349-351, fig. 3. 



