Studies of fossil hyaenids: the genera Hyaenictis Gaudry and Chasmaporthetes Hay, with a reconsideration of the Hyaenidae of Langebaanweg, South Africa

The fossil hyaenids from Langebaanweg in South Africa are revised taxonomically using both morphological comparisons and measurement data. Ictitherium preforfex is found to be a synonym of Ikelohyaena abronia. Other hyaenid taxa in this fauna are Hyaenictitherium namaquensis, Chasmaporthetes australis and a new taxon similar to Chasmaporthetes australis in the size and shape of the M1 trigonid and other characters, but differing from this taxon in having short P3 relative to P2, a smaller anterior accessory cusp on P4 and M2 present. This taxon has previously been referred to Euryboas sp., but comparison with Eurasian hyaenids indicates that it shares diagnostic characters with Hyaenictis graeca, type species of the genus Hyaenictis. This genus is poorly known and its content is reviewed. We find that only the new species from Langebaanweg, formally described as Hyaenictis hendeyi sp. nov., and the Spanish Hyaenictis almerai probably belong in this genus, while other taxa intermittently referred to Hyaenictis belong to other genera. Thus, neither Leecyaena bosei nor Chasmaporthetes silberbergi belong in Hyaenictis.

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