First record of Machairodus aphanistus KAUP, 1833 (Carnivora, Felidae, Machairodontinae) in East Asia from a late Miocene deposit of the Linxia Basin, Gansu Province, China

A hemi-mandible specimen from a primitive machairodont from the early late Miocene deposit of the Shanzhuang locality (Linxia Basin, northwestern China) is described in this work. It is attributed to the species Machairodus aphanistus after detailed comparisons, as it fits well with the morphological and metrical features characteristic of that species, showing clear differences from other species of the genus. The record of M. aphanistus also confirms the age of the Shanzhuang locality, which is likely to correspond to the early late Vallesian. M. aphanistus was previously considered to be restricted to Europe, however, this study of the new specimen confirms the existence of M. aphanistus in China, and even possibly across East Asia. The discovery of East Asian evidence for this species has filled the gap between European and North American forms in terms of the immigration path of the primitive machairodontine. Abbreviations HMV: Hezheng Palaeozoological Museum, Gansu, China; IVPP: Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Beijing, China; IPS: Specimen number of the Institut Catalade Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autonomade Barcelona; HLMD: Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt, Germany; NMU: Neogene land Mammal Zones of China; MN: Neogene land Mammal Zones of Europe; c: lower canine; p: lower premolar; m: lower molar.