Middle Miocene Chalicotheriinae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from France, with a discussion on chalicotheriine phylogeny.

Middle Miocene chalicotheriine remains from France have played an important part in the palaeontological history of chalicotheres. For example, both the first known skull and first complete individual come from Sansan (MN 6, Gers, France). Nevertheless, these remains have never been described in detail until now. Firstly, cranial remains of Anisodon grande from Sansan are described. A review of nomenclatural problems supports Anisodon Lartet, 1851 as the appropriate genus name for this species and a new lectotype is designated. Secondly, the description of new remains of Chalicotherium goldfussi from Saint-Gaudens (MN 8, Haute-Garonne, France) considerably increases knowledge of this taxon. Thirdly, a skull from La Grive Saint-Alban (MN 7–8, Isère, France) is reassessed. A new cladistic analysis of the Chalicotheriinae is proposed incorporating these new data. This analysis, including 12 taxa and 51 cranio-mandibular and dental characters, supports the division of Middle and Late Miocene chalicotheriines into two clades. A novel pattern of relationships is proposed and the systematics is revised. However, chalicotheriine relationships remain labile because of the need for both a revision of pre-Middle Miocene taxa and the addition of postcranial data. © 2007 The Natural History Museum, London. Journal compilation © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 151, 577–608. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]