New Extinct Carnivore Species, Paludocyon moyasolai, Discovered in Spain
A research team, including participants from the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP), has identified a new species of extinct carnivore from fossil remains found at the Els Casots site in Subirats, Alt Penedès, Spain. The species, named Paludocyon moyasolai, is a medium-sized amphicyonid, commonly known as a bear-dog, that existed approximately 15.9 million years ago during the early Middle Miocene. The discovery and description of this ancient animal were published in the *Journal of Mammalian Evolution*.
Fossilized remains uncovered at the Els Casots site in Subirats, Alt Penedès, have led to the description of a new species of extinct carnivore. A research team, with contributions from the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP), conducted the study.
The newly described species, named Paludocyon moyasolai, is characterized as a medium-sized amphicyonid. Amphicyonids are an extinct family of carnivores often referred to as bear-dogs due to their characteristics. This particular species lived approximately 15.9 million years ago, placing its existence in the early Middle Miocene epoch.
The specific epithet "moyasolai" was chosen to honor Salvador Moyà-Solà. Moyà-Solà is recognized for his significant contributions to the development of vertebrate paleontology within the Iberian Peninsula and served as the director of the ICP from its establishment until 2017.
The findings and detailed description of Paludocyon moyasolai were published in the *Journal of Mammalian Evolution*. According to Phys.org, this discovery highlights the paleontological significance of the Els Casots site.
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