Palaeogale von Meyer 1846

Genus Palaeogale von Meyer, 1846

Bunaelurus Cope, 1873: 8. — Type species: B. lagophagus.

TYPE SPECIES. — Palaeogale minuta Gervais, 1848 (synonym of Mustela) by original designation.

GENUS DIAGNOSIS. — “An early mustelid with cheek tooth formula 1.4/1-3.2-1/2. P1 and M2 vestigial or absent. P4 with small protocone, directed forward, large, somewhat recumbent main blade separated by a deep cleft from the strong metastylar blade. M1 strongly transverse, short and wide, triangular, with sharply projecting parastyle, small, simple protocone, not expanded anteroposteriorly and without cingulum. P2 procumbent, with long, shearing heel. M1 compressed, without metaconid, heel unbasined, with longitudinal shearing crest. M2 small but functional, elongate oval in outline, with weak longitudinal crest, without metaconid or basined talonid but with three vague cusps in series. No postorbital processes. No ossified auditory meatus. Palate ending at level of M1. Pterygoid crests converging posteriorly. Cerebellar region long and bounded externally by a distinct groove posterior to the cerebral region. Stylomastoid foramen lateral, near porus. Foramen ovale posterior to level of postglenoid processes. Carotid foramen small and nearly confluent with posterior lacerate foramen. Sagittal crest single throughout. Paroccipital process free, small.” (Simpson 1946: 12)