Promegaviverra abudhabiensis Valenciano, Beech & Bellucci 2026, sp. nov.

Promegaviverra abudhabiensis Valenciano, Beech & Bellucci sp. nov. Holotype. NHMAD 2026.00059. 1, right hemimandible comprising the mandibular corpus and angular process, as well as a broken alveolus for c, alveoli for p 1 and m 2, a broken p 2 and complete p 3 – m 1. Type locality. Shuwaihat 2, Baynunah Formation. (Al Dhafra Region, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Late Miocene, c. 7 Ma (Peppe et al. 2022). Derivation of name. abudhabiensis from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, named after the emirate of the United Arab Emirates where the type locality is placed. Diagnosis. Large viverrid characterized by the unique combination of a shallow mandibular corpus, absence of mandibular diastemata, retention of p 1, slender p 2, elongated p 3 and p 4, proportionally short p 4 with a linguodistal accessory cuspid, and m 1 with a tall trigonid and an open talonid comprising a reduced entoconid, a larger hypoconid, and a bicuspid hypoconulid. Description. NHMAD 2026.00059. 1 is a right hemimandible preserving a well-developed mandibular corpus (Fig. 2, Suppl. material 3). The rostral portion of the symphysis, as well as the coronoid and articular processes, is not preserved. The mandibular corpus is elongated and relatively low. Two mental foramina are present on the lateral surface: a larger foramen located below the mesial part of p 2 and a smaller one situated below the mesial root of p 3. The ventral border of the hemimandible is slightly convex from the symphysis region to the level of the rostral margin of the masseteric fossa. A small ventral bulge is present below the talonid of m 1 and the alveolar region of m 2. Posteriorly, beneath the masseteric fossa and angular process, the ventral border becomes concave. The preserved portion of the masseteric fossa is deep and extends anteriorly to the level of m 2. The angular process is well developed and hook-shaped. Its medial surface bears a broad area for the insertion of the pterygoid musculature. The symphysis surface is slightly inclined and rugose. It preserves the distal part of the canine alveolus, as well as a single alveolus for a well-developed p 1. The dentition (Table 1) shows no evidence of wear, indicating that the specimen represents a young adult individual. All preserved premolars possess well-developed mesial and distal cingula. There are no diastemata in the cheek teeth row. The mesial portion of p 2 is damaged. Overall, p 2 is elongated and slender, bearing a small distal accessory cuspid. Both p 3 and p 4 are elongated and triangular in shape. The p 3 has a buccolingually expanded distal portion. Its principal cuspid is inclined distally towards p 4. It has a small mesial accessory cuspid. Distally, there are two small accessory cuspids, a larger one buccal and a smaller one lingual (Suppl. material 3). The p 4 is likewise elongated. Its principal cuspid is slightly higher than the paraconid of m 1, however, relative to its length, the tooth is comparatively low and possesses a broad talonid. Three accessory cuspids are also present; one mesial and two distal. The mesial accessory cuspid is low and robust. Of the distal accessory cuspids, the larger is positioned buccally and is tall and robust, whereas the smaller occupies the distolingual corner of the tooth. The m 1 is characterized by a well-developed tall trigonid, with the protoconid forming the highest cusp. The metaconid is triangular, slightly lower than the paraconid and appears robust in lingual view. Its mesial and distal cristids are straight. The maximum width of the tooth is located at the protoconid base. Both mesoconid and crista obliqua are absent. The talonid is relatively short and bears a prominent buccally positioned hypoconid connected distally to a small bicuspid hypoconulid. The entoconid is crestiform and lower than the hypoconid. Together, these cusps delimit a relatively open talonid basin, bordered lingually by the bevelled internal wall of the hypoconid. The m 2 alveolus indicates a well-developed molar. Remarks. Our phylogenetic analysis supports the recognition of Promegaviverra abudhabiensis gen. et sp. nov. from Shuwaihat 2 (Fig. 3). The new species is recovered as the basal form within a clade comprising M. vulpidens from South Africa, M. carpathorum from central Europe, M. peii from China, the Plio – Pleistocene African species C. leakeyi, and the extant African Civet C. civetta. This topology indicates that Promegaviverra belongs to a morphologically distinctive Afro-Eurasian viverrine lineage, clearly differentiated from the Asiatic genera Viverra and the Miocene Vishnuictis.