10 C. C. Bentley, J. L. Knight, and M. A. Knoll 



Family Felidae 

 Subfamily Machairodontinae 

 cf. Smilodon fatalis. - Sabertooth 

 Material: 1 left occipital condyle (.266). 



Remarks: The shape and size of the condyle has its closest affinities 

 with Smilodon and differs significantly from any other large mammal. 

 The identification is extremely tenuous, however, and after an exhaus- 

 tive search, represents the best possible solution to the identification 

 of this specimen. 



Subfamily Felinae 

 Lynx rufus - Bobcat 



Material: 1 right dentary lacking teeth, proximal end missing behind 

 m3 alveoli (.267). 



Remarks: This specimen is extremely similar to mandibles of Lynx 

 rufus especially in general ramus shape, and alveolar count and placement. 

 The bobcat inhabits a range of habitats including deserts, swamps, and 

 upland forests (Kurten and Anderson 1980), and it occurs in the Ardis 

 local fauna area today (Webster et al. 1985). 



This is the first fossil record of Lynx rufus from South Carolina. 



Family Mustelidae 



Subfamily Lutrinae 



Lontra canadensis - River Otter 



Material: 1 cranium missing the right zygomatic arch and retaining 



only the left Pl-Ml (SC 91.116.1); 1 atlas vertebra (.242); 1 caudal 



vertebra (.243). 



Remarks: The river otter once occurred throughout the United States, 

 including Alaska, but has been extirpated from many areas of the Mid- 

 west and Appalachian Highlands. The otter occurs sparsely through- 

 out South Carolina, inhabiting a wide range of aquatic habitats. It 

 appears to be most abundant in coastal estuaries and the lower reaches 

 of rivers in the State (Webster et al. 1985). 



This is the first fossil record of this taxon from South Carolina. 



Subfamily Mephitinae 

 Spilogale putorius - Eastern Spotted Skunk 



Material: 1 proximal end of the right dentary with the alveoli for a 

 partial m2 and for the m3 (.244). 



