The diversification of the lynx lineage during the Plio-Pleistocene—evidence from a new smallLynxfrom Longdan, Gansu Province, China

AbstractA new small-sized lynx from Longdan, Gansu Province, China, Lynx hei sp. nov., is described in this study. The new species displays the characteristic Lynx generic traits, such as distinct buccal grooves in the upper canine, presence of an anterior groove in the upper canine, absence of upper premolar 2, and a moderately developed mastoid process, but it is markedly smaller than the previously described Lynx issiodorensis specimens from the same site and is also smaller overall than most living species, comparable to Lynx rufus in size. The new species has a relatively wide and deep zygomatic arch, similar to that of living Lynx lynx, Lynx pardinus and Lynx canadensis but wider than that of Lynx rufus. Our phylogenetic analyses suggest that Lynx hei falls within the crown group Lynx, being the sister to Lynx rufus or, less probably, a sister to Lynx issiodorensis + three other living species of Lynx. The Plio-Pleistocene Lynx issiodorensis is supported as the ancestor of Lynx lynx, Lynx pardinus and Lynx canadensis. Our phylogenetic study suggests that Lynx diversification over the Plio-Pleistocene was achieved initially by body size differentiation, putatively forced by intraspecific competition with other carnivorans, followed by morphological divergence.