First evidence of endemic Murinae (Rodentia, Mammalia) in the early Pliocene of the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean)

A new insular species of Paraethomys (Muridae, Rodentia) with medium-sized hypsodont teeth is described from the Zanclean of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean). The m1 displays the most distinctive traits: hypsodonty, a high occurrence of an unusual anterior cingulum, a well-develope...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geological magazine 2019-10, Vol.156 (10), p.1742-1750
Main Authors: Torres-Roig, Enric, Piñero, Pedro, Agustí, Jordi, Bover, Pere, Alcover, Josep Antoni
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Balearic Islands
biogeography
Cenozoic
Chordata
Cingulum
Enamel
Endemic species
endemic taxa
Europe
Eutheria
Fossils
Iberian Peninsula
Islands
lower Pliocene
Majorca
Mammalia
Mediterranean region
Mediterranean Sea
Messinian
Muridae
Murinae
Myomorpha
Neogene
New species
new taxa
Original Article
Paleontology
Paraethomys
Paraethomys balearicus
Pliocene
Rodentia
Southern Europe
Spain
Teeth
Tertiary
Tetrapoda
Theria
Vertebrata
vertebrate
West Mediterranean
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Description
Summary:A new insular species of Paraethomys (Muridae, Rodentia) with medium-sized hypsodont teeth is described from the Zanclean of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean). The m1 displays the most distinctive traits: hypsodonty, a high occurrence of an unusual anterior cingulum, a well-developed labial cingulum, high accessory labial cuspids resembling the Apodemus pattern and a funnel between c1 and the hypoconid. Paraethomys balearicus sp. nov. preserves traits close to those present in the earliest populations of Paraethomys meini from the upper Turolian, such as a developed posterior spur on t3 in the M1, a connection between t4 and t8 in the M1, a narrow connection between t6 and t9 in the M1 and the occasional presence of an individualized t9 and a t12 in some M2s. The relationship between the new taxon and its direct mainland ancestor gives additional support to a Messinian origin for the so-called Myotragus fauna, which became isolated after the refilling of the Mediterranean Sea 5.33 Ma ago. The absence of Paraethomys in other known younger Mallorcan sites suggests that its extinction most probably occurred at an indeterminate time during the Pliocene Epoch.
ISSN:0016-7568
1469-5081
DOI:10.1017/S0016756818000985