Vishnuictis is an extinct genus of viverrid known from the Middle Miocene to Pleistocene of India, Pakistan, China, and Kenya. It is named after Vishnu, one of the primary Hindu deities.[4][5]

Vishnuictis
Temporal range: MiocenePleistocene, 16.0–1.6 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Viverridae
Subfamily: Viverrinae
Genus: Vishnuictis
Pilgrim, 1932
Type species
†Vishnuictis durandi[3]
Pilgrim, 1932
Species
  • V. salmontanus Pilgrim, 1932
  • V. hinduiensis Pilgrim, 1932
  • V. africana Morals & Pickford, 2008[1]
  • V. chinjiensis
  • V. hariensis Prasad, 1968
  • V. yuanmouensis[2]
Synonyms

Vishnuictis chinjiensis

  • "Viverra" chinjiensis Pilgrim, 1932

Vishnuictis durandi

Distribution

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The oldest known fossil record of Vishnuictis is V. africana (named after the continent of Africa) from the Muruyur Formation of Kenya, which date to the Middle Miocene. In Asia, V. salmontanus has been reported from the Dhok Pathan Formation (Pakistan) and the Yuanmou Formation (China). V. hariensis is known from Late Miocene Nagri Formation (India). V. chinjiensis is reported from the Middle Miocene Chinji Formation of both India and Pakistan and is the oldest known Asian species of the genus.The species V. durandi and V. hinduensis have been reported from the Pliocene to Pleistocene Pinjor Formation (India).[1][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Morales, Jorge; Pickford, Martin (2008). "Creodonts and carnivores from the Middle Miocene Muruyur Formation, Kipsaraman and Cheparawa, Baringo District, Kenya". Comptes Rendus Palevol.
  2. ^ Dong, Wei; Liu, Jianhui; Pan, Yuerong (2003). "A newEuprox from the Late Miocene of Yuanmou, Yunnan Province, China, with interpretation of its paleoenvironment". Chinese Science Bulletin.
  3. ^ Pilgrim, G. (1932). "The fossil Carnivora of India". Palaeontologia Indica, Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India. 18: 206–209.
  4. ^ R., Carroll (1998). "R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution" (PDF). Sivalik hills fauna. doi:10.2307/3514548. JSTOR 3514548. S2CID 86406076.
  5. ^ R. L. Werdelin, S. Peigne; W. J6., Sander (2010). "R. L. Werdelin and S. Peigne. 2010. Carnivora. In L. Werdelin, W. J. Sanders (eds.), Cenozoic Mammals of Africa 603-657". Cenozoic mammals of Africa.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Dong, Wei; Qi, Guoqi (2013). "Hominoid-Producing Localities and Biostratigraphy in Yunnan". Fossil Mammals of Asia-Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. doi:10.7312/columbia/9780231150125.003.0011.