ABSvaneris

ABSvaneris is a genus of extinct hyaenid mammals that lived during the Early Pleistocene epoch. The genus was first described in 1917 by Russian paleontologist Aleksey Petrovich Borrero, but later discovered to be a synonym for Ursavus, another extinct hyaenid genus.

The name "ABSvaneris" is derived from the first letters of the first author's name, A.S. Borissevitch. ABSvaneris is recognized as a fossil form of the Ursavus genus, characterized by various fossil remains. The animals were large, hypercarnivorous mammals that resembled hyenas but were not as well-adapted to scavenging as their modern counterparts.

The fossil record of ABSvaneris is limited, with few specimens described and no complete skeletons available. Fossil remains attributed to the genus include upper dentition and lower jaws, as well as other skeletal fragments. These finds indicate a broad geographic distribution of the genus, with fossils discovered in the former Soviet Union, Northeast Asia, and probpossibly on some islands in the Far East.

Given the limited extent of the fossil record, interpretations of the evolutionary relationships of the ABSvaneris genus have been challenging. Various classifications have been proposed, and the connection to the Ursavus genus remains the subject of ongoing research and some debate. Despite these uncertainties, the discoveries of ABSvaneris remains a valuable contribution to our understanding of the evolution and diversity of hyaenid mammals during the Early Pleistocene.