Blancan Carnivore Trigonictis 
23 
The close relationship between some Neogene palearctic mustelids and 
modern neotropical galictines, especially Galictis, has long been recog- 
nized (for example. Major 1902:626). A comprehensive discussion of 
these Old World forms is beyond the scope of this paper and is in any 
event not feasible, as it must be based upon restudy of original materials 
and resolution of a welter of morphological, taxonomic, and nomencla- 
tural problems (Viret 1954, and Ficcarelli and Torre 1967, provide the best 
introduction to the subject). However, a few comments are appropriate 
here insofar as the Eurasian material may be instructive in resolution of 
North American problems. 
Synonymy of New" and Old World forms has been suggested, for 
example as follows, '"Trigonictis kansasensis appears to be at least generi- 
cally identical with Pannonictis pliocaenica" (Repenning 1967:296; fol- 
lowed by Thenius 1972:206 and by Kurten and Anderson 1980:156). We 
feel that this is at least premature if not wrong. Pannonictis pliocaenica 
has a basined talon in P- similar to that in the grison (Kormos 1931:169; 
Schreuder 1935:83). Pilgrim (1932:854-855) also called attention to the 
importance of this feature, as follows, “The protocone of P- in Enhydric- 
tis is backwardly expanded. . .but the pronounced cusp of Trochictis 
retained in Tayra has been replaced by a cup-shaped protocone sur- 
rounded by a rim, which is identical with that of Pannonictis and Mus- 
telid gen. indet., sp. n., Zdansky and almost so with GrisonT Also 
according to Pilgrim P^ is single-rooted in Enhydrictis, as in living 
galictines, but not in Trigonictis. The P- of Trigonictis closely resembles 
that of the geologically older Trochictis, which also retains a double- 
rooted Pj. Trochictis is clearly more primitive than Trigonictis, but may 
well have been ancestral, whereas Trigonictis is in turn less advanced than 
Enhydrictis, Pannonictis, Galictis, and Grisonella . 
Kormos (1934:131), concerned about the great variation in size of 
specimens referred to Pannonictis pliocaenica, measured a series of lower 
dentitions. He found that the length of Mj- fell into three groups, as 
follows: 8 specimens with a range of 10.7-12.0 mm and a mean of 1 1.5 
mm; 17, range 12.6-14.5, mean 13.5; 15, range 15.0-16.2, mean 15.6. He 
concluded that the largest size group represented males of P. pliocaenica, 
the middle group females, and the smallest a new species, P. pilgrimi. 
However, after completing the manuscript he discovered a skull of the 
new species which proved to be more like the skull of Enhydrictis than 
like that of the type species, Pannonictis pliocaenica, in spite of its 
Pannonictis-\\\it dentition. Transfer of pilgrimi to Enhydrictis, probably 
as a junior synonym of E. ardea (cf. Viret 1954:83), however, is not to say 
that Pannonictis is a synonym of Enhydrictis as some American authors 
apparently have supposed. Discovery of skulls of Trigonictis macrodon, 
T. cookii, and Sminthosinis howleri may prove to be similarly enlighten- 
