Relationships ofBarbourofelis piveteaui(Ozansoy, 1965), a late Miocene nimravid (Carnivora, Mammalia) from central Turkey

An incomplete skull and associated mandible of “Megantereon” piveteaui Ozansoy, 1965, from the Middle Sinap Formation (Vallesian Mammal Age, early late Miocene) of Turkey is one of the best preserved and perhaps the latest known record of the Nimravidae outside North America. It shares many synapomorphies (such as the very specialized carnassials, reduced P3s and lower canine, broad palate, large infraorbital foramen, and large masseter insertion) with North American Barbourofelis, and is accordingly referred to this genus, which probably also includes B. vallesiensis (Beaumont and Crusafont, 1982) from the late Miocene of Spain. Immigration of this group into North America may have taken place near the middle/late Miocene boundary.