On a New Find of Megantereon (Carnivora, Felidae, Machairodontinae) from the Early Pleistocene of Trlica (Montenegro, the Central Balkans)

Abstract

A canine of Megantereon whitei (Broom, 1937), a large representative of the genus Megantereon from Trlica Cave in Montenegro, a multilayered mammal locality with traces of hominine activity, is described. The specimen was found in Bed 9 of the section during excavations in 2010–2014. This record reflects the first penetration of the African species M. whitei into the Balkans. The mammal fauna from Trlica (TRL11–TRL10, 1.8–1.5 Ma) includes the Eurasian species M. cultridens, represented by a canine found in Bed 10.