Paleontologists have discovered a new species of ceratozoa, commonly known as beardogs, from two well-preserved specimens found at a fossil-rich site in the Valles Penedes Basin near Barcelona, Spain.
Pardoshion Moyasolai. Image credit: Jesus Gamarra.
The species has been named Pardoshion Moyasolai. It thrived during the mid-Miocene epoch, approximately 15.9 million years ago, in a warm, forested environment with shallow lakes.
This carnivorous mammal belongs to the extinct family Amphicyonidae, often referred to as bear dogs due to their unique blend of traits from modern bears and dogs.
“The Lycoptidae family played a significant role in the carnivore population across North America and Eurasia throughout much of the Cenozoic Era,” explained Dr. Jorge Morales from the CSIC National Science Museum and his colleagues.
“In Africa, the earliest evidence of horned phycyonids dates back to the early Miocene, persisting until the late Miocene, marking the last known occurrence of this group.”
Dr. Morales added, “Recent studies suggest that North America may have been the origin of this family, supported by a more complete and diverse Paleogene record of horned phycyonids in North America compared to Western Europe or Asia.”
The two specimens of Pardoshion Moyasolai were excavated from the Els Casots site in the Valles Penedes Basin, Spain.
The fossils include a well-preserved skull with most teeth intact and an isolated lower molar discovered separately.
Currently, both specimens are housed at the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Palaeontology in Sabadell, Spain.
Researchers noted that Pardoshion Moyasolai can be identified by the distinct proportions of its molars. Notably, the upper second molars were wider than the upper first molars, and the upper third molars were exceptionally large and developed.
These features are unique, as they have not been observed in any other known members of this genus, including Pardochyon.
To pinpoint the classification of Pardoshion Moyasolai, Dr. Morales and his team compared its teeth to those of related species from Europe and North America.
The results indicate that this new species represents one of the earliest divergences within the genus Pardochyon, making it one of the most primitive known members of the group.
The findings also suggest that the classification of Cyneros does not reflect a natural grouping, as it is paraphyletic, meaning its members do not share a single common ancestor specific to that group.
Three species currently classified under North America’s Cyneros present a distinctive challenge. Analysis reveals that Pardochyon species are more diverse than their European Cyneros counterparts, but their classifications are still unresolved.
Scientists propose that these North American species may have evolved independently from their European relatives, likely descending from Asian ancestors or unique North American lineages.
“Phylogenetic analysis indicates that while Cyneros is paraphyletic, it does support the monophyly of Pardochyon, with the new species identified as its most basal member,” the authors noted.
“This underscores the long-distance evolutionary ties between species, with European Cyneros (e.g., Kineros rugocidens and Kineros remanensis) and Pardochyon supporting their classification as distinct genera.”
This significant discovery is detailed in a recent article published in the Mammal Evolution Journal.
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J. Morales et al.. 2026. Discovery of a new species Pardochyon (Carnivora: Amphicyonidae) from the early Miocene of Els Casots, Valles Penedes Basin, Barcelona, Spain. J. Mammal. Evol 33, 29; doi: 10.1007/s10914-026-09814-6
Source: www.sci.news
