A dwarf Megantereon from the Sangiran complex of Java (Indonesia; late Early Pleistocene) and its biogeographic implications

While the presence of Megantereon from the Pleistocene fossil record of Java has been recognized for half a century, almost nothing is known about its morphology and origin due to material restricted to canines. In this study, we report three isolated teeth of Megantereon from the Sangiran complex in the GHR von Koenigswald Collection, previously misidentified as belonging to Panthera tigris and P. pardus. These teeth are highly diagnostic and represent a dwarf form of Megantereon, possibly distinct from known species, and are referred to Megantereon sp. The presence of this carnivoran species indicates a certain level of isolation, probably on a peninsula, to evolve a smaller size and dental changes. Additionally, we review the Javanese Pleistocene material of Homotherium and Hemimachairodus and refer them to a single taxon: Homotherium latidens. Our morphological comparisons with a wider sample of specimens suggest that Megantereon sp. originated from southern China, while H. latidens originated from southern Asia. This study underscores the need for detailed taxonomic work to discuss the dispersal routes of Sangiran faunal components, which is crucial for understanding the origin of the Javanese fauna and the paleoenvironment that Homo erectus inhabited.

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