254 THE AGE OF MAMMALS 



and lower molar teeth, which are quite similar in proportion to those of 

 the Oligocene Pakmmastodon of North Africa. This animal was termed 

 Trilophodon by Falconer because there are three transverse roAvs of cusps 

 on the intermediate ' grinding teeth, while the last gi'inder has four trans- 

 verse rows. It is further distinguished by a long, ])rojecting snout armed 

 with four straight and forvvardly projecting tusks. While this is the most 

 widely prevailing Lower Miocene species, another mastodon with broader 

 teeth also occurs. These animals arc related to the intermediate forms of 

 primitive mastodons (T. pygmceus) found in the Burdigalian or Lower 

 Miocene of Algeria (Deperet). 



The dinotheres are characterized by the absence of upper tusks and 

 by a pair of lower tusks projecting doumivard in the lower jaw. 



Of the predaceous or carnivorous fauna, the giant amphicyonids (Am- 

 phicyon) are the dominant forms. The canids are less numerous and 

 varied than in America; the last of the Oligocene genus C ephalogale. appea.r. 

 The Mustelidce, or marten and weasel family, is represented by several 

 land-living genera (Stenogale, Palceogale, Stenoplesictis) as well as by the 

 river otters (Lutridis, Lutra), the first species of the modern genus of 

 otters. The felids are represented by numerous machaerodonts, or saber- 

 tooth cats, and ])y the aberrant Pseudwlunis, regarded by von Zittel - as 

 related to the Madagascan fossa (Cryptoprocta) , but of the size of a small 

 panther. 



Of the microfauna we first observe among the castorids that the genus 

 Chalicomys replaces the Steneofiber of the Oligocene. There are also ham- 

 sters (Cricetodon) , picas or tailless hares (Myolagus), talpids (Talpa), and 

 Galerix, referred to the tupaiids or tree shrews by Deperet, to the erina- 

 ceids or to the leptictids by Leche. 



Not the least noteworthy is the first alleged appearance^ in Europe 

 of Pliopithecus, a representative of the anthropoid apes, related to the 

 existing gibbons of Asia, and undoubtedly Asiatic in origin. Stehlin^ 

 regards the anthropoids as absent from this snhJes fauna. Summing up 

 the new contributions to the life of western Europe, they appear to be as 

 follows : 



From Africa From Asia From North America 



Mastodons Tragulids, or chevrotains Anchitheres 



Dinotheres Horned cervulines 



Teleocerine rhinoceroses 



Sumatran rhinoceroses 



Anthropoid apes 



Antilopines (doubtful) 



^ That is, the fourth premolar and first and second molars. 



2 Yon Zittel, K., Handbuch der Palaontologie, 1, IV, 1891-1893, p. 667. 



^ Mayet, Mammif^res Miocenes des Sables de I'Orleanais, etc., 1908, p. 317. 



* Stehlin, Notices Paleomammalogiques sur quelques Depots Miocenes. 1907. 



