Blancan Carnivore Trigonictis 
15 
and narrow with a distinct lingual indentation in its occlusal outline 
between the paraconid and metaconid; complementary crests on the pos- 
terior slope of the protoconid and the anterior slope of the hypoconid 
meet at the notch separating the trigonid from the talonid (contrast the 
worn condition of these crests in the holotype, Figs. 3D, F, 4A, 5D); the 
labially placed hypoconid is the highest part of the talonid; the talonid 
basin is bordered continuously posteriorly and lingually by a regular, 
crenulated crest; the talonid basin is floored by the smoothly and gently 
sloping internal wall of the hypoconid. 
The left half of the mandible from Santa Fe River VIII A, UF/FSM 
18912, is essentially complete and one of the best preserved specimens of 
Trigonictis known (Fig. 4B). It is characterized by short, robust propor- 
tions, relatively straight ventral profile, low articular process, erect, 
broad coronoid process, deeply incised masseteric fossa terminating pos- 
terior to the level of the M 2 alveolus, and narrow symphyseal region with 
crowded incisive alveoli. The strongly molded bony surface with some 
rugosity and the heavily worn dentition indicate advanced individual age. 
The left Pj was lost during life and its alveoli nearly obliterated. The teeth 
in the associated incomplete right ramus show comparable wear. Oth- 
erwise the characteristics of the postcanine teeth fit well within the varia- 
tion of the sample of Trigonictis, and similar patterns of extreme wear 
and dental anomalies were observed among modern galictines in the 
USNM. 
The three postcranial elements from Santa Fe VIII A are assigned only 
tentatively to the genus and species. The left (UF/FSM 16762) and right 
(UF/FSM 14256) femora are similar enough in all respects to represent a 
single individual. Thus only the left was described, measured and illus- 
trated (Fig. 6), along with the left tibia (UF/FSM 18475). The tibia seems 
compatible with the femora in size, maturity, morphology, and preserva- 
tion and could also represent the same individual. Unfortunately, in the 
present state of knowledge, very little can usefully be done with these 
dissociated elements beyond placing them on record for future reference. 
There is only a single partial skeleton of Trigonictis known, UM V49819, 
T. cookii, described and illustrated by Bjork (1970:25-26). He referred 
several isolated postcranial elements to T. idahoensis, including a femur 
and tibia, but did not describe (except for comments on the tibia), mea- 
sure, or illustrate them. The femur of T. cookii illustrated by Bjork 
(1970:fig. 14e) appears to be very similar to those from Florida, except 
for its smaller size. 
Among modern mustelids, the tibia is longer than the femur and is 
curved in mustelines, is slightly shorter than the femur in galictines, and is 
curved in Galictis and Grisonella. The tibia is nearly straight in Eira, but 
both it and the femur are relatively slender. If the femora and tibia from 
