New carnivoran remains from the Early Pleistocene Shanshenmiaozui site in Nihewan Basin, northern China

In the Shanshenmiaozui (SSMZ) fauna from Nihewan Basin, Canis chihliensis, Nyctereutes sp., Homotherium sp., Acinonyx sp., Lynx shansius and Pachycrocuta licenti have been identified. C. chihliensis is the dominant and best represented species whose fossil materials include crania, mandibles and postcranials, including nearly complete manus and pes. The giant cheetah Acinonyx sp. is only represented by postcranial skeletons (scapula, radius, proximal ulna and an almost complete manus), which represent the richest collection for its kind ever known in China. Nyctereutes sp. is only represented by a partial cranium and distal part of a humerus. Homotherium sp. is only represented by a partial lower m1. Lynx shansius is represented by a nearly complete mandible with p3 and m1 preserved in situ. The fossil materials of Pachycrocuta licenti include a juvenile mandible with dp2-4 and m1 attached, an isolated dp4 and a partial ascending ramus. The SSMZ carnivoran guild resembles those of the classic Nihewan fauna (CNF) and the Dmanisi fauna, which means they probably have a similar geologic age or slightly younger of the SSMZ fauna; and they also share the same open grassland/shrubland habitat. The post-cranial bones of C. chihliensis and Acinonyx sp. from SSMZ represent the first records for their kinds in China.

Automated summary

The Shanshenmiaozui fauna in Nihewan Basin contains various species such as Canis chihliensis, Nyctereutes sp., Homotherium sp., Acinonyx sp., Lynx shansius, and Pachycrocuta licenti. Among them, C. chihliensis is the dominant species with the most well-preserved fossil materials, including crania, mandibles, and postcranials. Acinonyx sp. is represented by postcranial skeletons, while Nyctereutes sp. is only represented by a partial cranium and humerus. The carnivoran guild of SSMZ fauna resembles those of CNF and Dmanisi fauna, suggesting similar geologic age and habitat.