New 'Bear Dog' Species Discovered in Spain, Lived 15.9 Million Years Ago

Paleontologists have unearthed a new species of "bear dog" that roamed the Iberian Peninsula approximately 15.9 million years ago. The discovery, made at the Els Casots fossil site in Catalonia, Spain, adds a significant piece to the puzzle of European Miocene fauna.

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The new species, named Paludocyon moyasolai, was identified from fossilized remains, including a partial skull with a large part of the dentition and an isolated lower molar.

The newly identified species has been named Paludocyon moyasolai, honoring the prominent Spanish paleontologist Salvador Moyà-Solà. The identification was based on fossilized remains, including a partially preserved skull with much of its dentition and an isolated lower molar. These fossils were recovered from Els Casots, recognized as one of Europe's most important paleontological sites from the Miocene epoch.

Researchers noted unique anatomical features in Paludocyon moyasolai, particularly the significant development of its posterior molars. This suggests an adaptation for a varied diet, likely mesocarnivorous. During the Middle Miocene, the region was a wetland environment with shallow lagoons, warm forests, and a diverse array of fauna, including crocodiles, tropical snakes, fish, amphibians, and various mammals, all sharing the ecosystem with this ancient predator.

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These adaptations suggest a relatively varied diet, compatible with a mesocarnivorous diet.

Paludocyon moyasolai belonged to the Amphicyonidae family, an extinct group of large carnivorous mammals that exhibited traits of both dogs and bears, though they were not closely related to modern canids or ursids. Amphicyonids were widespread across North America and Eurasia during the Cenozoic Era. The Els Casots site has yielded over 5,000 vertebrate fossils, contributing significantly to our understanding of European Miocene biodiversity and ecosystems during a time when climates were warmer than today.

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The species has been named 'paludocyon moyasolai' in honor of the Spanish paleontologist Salvador Moyà-Solà, a key figure in the development of vertebrate paleontology in Europe.