Phenotypic and geographic diversity of the lesser panda Parailurus

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the phenotypic and geographic diversity of Parailurus. The evolutionary history of the lesser panda's predecessors was very unclear until recently due to the fragmentary nature of fossil specimens. It is accepted that Ailuridae, and Ailurinae sensu stricto, include the recent Ailurus fulgens and extinct lesser pandas represented by a sing legenus Parailurus from the Pliocene of Europe, Asia, and North America. Although Amphictis ambiguus from the late Oligocene of Quercy (France) may be more closely related to the Simocyoninae and perhaps Ailurinae, both subfamilies are currently included in the Ailuridae. It is shown that the poor fossil record prevented the recognition of further Miocene ailurids first hand. Although Magerictis imperialis from the middle Miocene of Spain was described as anailurid, it was later assigned to Ailurinae. Only recent findings allowed revealing the ailurid identity of other taxa such as Protursus and Simocyon, all already known to specialists. Despite numerous other localities, the paleontological record of the Parailurus lesser panda remains restricted mostly to the isolated teeth, occasionally with postcranial elements, and rarely cranial fragments. Therefore, it is not surprising that more complete skeletal remains are needed to get an idea of how Parailurus might look.