Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-x4r87 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T19:59:49.227Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The earliest member of Neocricetodon (Rodentia: Cricetidae): a redescription of N. moldavicus from Eastern Europe, and its bearing on the evolution of the genus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2016

Maxim V. Sinitsa Open the ORCID record for Maxim V. Sinitsa [Opens in a new window]  and
Andrian Delinschi
Maxim V. Sinitsa
Affiliation:
Department of Paleontology, National Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, B. Khmelnitsky str. 15, 01601 Kiev, Ukraine; Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, Mira str. 19, 620002 Ekaterinburg, Russia 〈sinitsamax@gmail.com〉
Andrian Delinschi
Affiliation:
Department of Natural Sciences, National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History of Moldova, M. Kogălniceanu str. 82, 2009 Kishinev, Republic of Moldova 〈andriandelinschi@yahoo.com〉
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The genus Neocricetodon represents one of the most diverse radiations of extinct cricetines. Its early evolution remains unclear, mainly owing to the incomplete fossil record. One of the earliest and least known species of this genus is N. moldavicus described from the early late Miocene localities Bujor 1 and Calfa, Moldova. We reexamined the type material of this species and compared it with other species of Neocricetodon. Despite its old geological age, N. moldavicus demonstrates rather advanced dental morphology including the anterocone of M1 being deeply split; mesolophs and mesolophids partially reduced; and the labial spur of the anterolophule, ectomesolophids, and lingual anterolophid of m2 lacking. The phylogenetic analysis of 15 Neocricetodon species based on 22 dental characters revealed three synapomorphies for the genus: presence of the M1 labial anterolophule, the four-rooted M2, and presence of the labial anterolophulid of m1. “Kowalskia cf. schaubi” from Rudabánya and “Kowalskia sp.” from Vösendorf, formerly considered as the earliest finds of Neocricetodon, do not possess these characters and rather represent the genus Democricetodon. Our study also suggests that Kowalskia complicidens is a member of Sinocricetus, and that N. neimengensis and N. zhengi are junior synonyms of N. polonicus. The recognition of N. moldavicus as the earliest member of the genus within the clade containing the species of Neocricetodon from France and Spain supports the hypothesis of the Eastern European origin of the Western European Neocricetodon species.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 90 , Issue 4 , July 2016 , pp. 771 - 784
Copyright
Copyright © 2016, The Paleontological Society 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aguilar, J.-P., 1982, Contributions à létude des micromammifères du gisement Miocène supérieur de Montredon (Hérault). 2. Les rongeurs: Palaeovertebrata, v. 12, p. 81–117.Google Scholar
Aguilar, J.-P., and Michaux, J., 1996, The beginning of the age of Murinae (Mammalia; Rodentia) in southern France: Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, v. 39, p. 35–45.Google Scholar
Aguilar, J.-P., Calvet, M., and Michaux, J., 1995, Les rongeurs du gisement karstique miocène supérieur de Castelnou-1 (Pyrénées-orientales, France): Geobios, v. 28, p. 501–510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bachmayer, F., and Wilson, R.W., 1970, Small Mammals (Insectivora, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, Rodentia) from the Kohfidisch Fissures of Burgenland, Austria: Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien, v. 74, p. 533–587.Google Scholar
Bachmayer, F., and Wilson, R.W., 1978, A second Contribution to the Fossil Small Mammal Fauna of Kohfidisch (Burgenland), Austria: Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien, v. 81, p. 129–161.Google Scholar
Bachmayer, F., and Wilson, R.W., 1980, A Third Contribution to the Fossil Small Mammal Fauna of Kohfidisch (Burgenland), Austria: Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien, v. 83, p. 351–386.Google Scholar
Bowdich, T.E., 1821, An Analysis of the Natural Classifications of Mammalia for the Use of Students and Travelers: Paris, J. Smith, 146 p.Google Scholar
Bruijn, H. de, Mein, P., Montenat, C., and van de Weerd, A., 1975, Correlations entre les gisements de rongeurs et les formations marines du Miocène terminal d’Espagne méridionale (prov. de Alicante et Murcia): Proceedings of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, B, v. 78, p. 282–313.Google Scholar
Bruijn, H. de, Doukas, C.S., van den Hoek Ostende, L.W., and Zachariasse, W.J., 2012, New finds of rodents and insectivores from the Upper Miocene at Plakias (Crete, Greece): Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, v. 131, p. 61–75.Google Scholar
Casanovas-Vilar, I., 2007, The rodent assemblages from the Late Aragonian and the Vallesian (Middle to Late Miocene) of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia, Spain) [Ph.D. dissertation]: Autonomous University of Barcelona, 285 p.Google Scholar
Daxner-Höck, G., 1972, Cricetinae aus dem Alt-Pliozän von Eichkogel bei Mödling (Niederösterreich) und von Vösendorf bei Wien: Paläontologische Zeitschrift, v. 46, p. 133–150.Google Scholar
Daxner-Höck, G., 1992, Die Cricetinae aus dem Obermiozän von Maramena (Mazedonien, Nordgriechenland): Paläontologische Zeitschrift, v. 66, p. 331–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daxner-Höck, G., 1995, Some Glirids and Cricetids from Maramena and other late Miocene localities in Northern Greece. 9, in Schmidt-Kittler, N. ed. The Vertebrate Locality Maramena (Macedonia, Greece) at the Turolian-Ruscinian boundary (Neogene). Münchener Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen, A, v. 28, p. 103–120.Google Scholar
Daxer-Höck, G., Fahlbusch, V., Kordos, L., and Wu, W., 1996, The Late Neogene Cricetid Genera Neocricetodon and Kowalskia, in Bernor, R.L., Fahlbusch, V., and Mittmann, H.-W., eds. The evolution of western Eurasian Neogene mammal faunas. New York, Columbia University Press, p. 220–226.Google Scholar
Delinschi, A., 2013, New dormice records (Rodentia: Gliridae) from the Late Miocene of the Republic of Moldova: Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, v. 56, p. 13–26.Google Scholar
Delinschi, A., 2014, A new Turolian species Lophocricetus cimishliensis (Rodentia, Zapodidae) from the Republic of Moldova: Palaeontologia Electronica, v. 17, 13 p., palaeo-electronica.org/content/2014/923-new-dipodid-from-moldova Google Scholar
Deng, T., 2006, Chinese Neogene mammal biochronology: Vertebrata PalAsiatica, v. 44, p. 143–163.Google Scholar
Dong, W., and Qi, G.-Q., 2013, Hominoid-Producing Localities and Biostratigraphy in Yunnan, in Wang, X., Flynn, L.G., and Fortelius, M., eds. Fossil Mammals of Asia. New York, Columbia University Press, p. 293–309.Google Scholar
Engesser, B., 1989, The Late Tertiary small mammals of the Maremma region (Tuscany, Italy), 2nd part: Muridae and Cricetidae (Rodentia, Mammalia): Bollettino della Societá Paleontologica ltaliana, v. 28, p. 227–252.Google Scholar
Fahlbusch, V., 1964, Die Cricetiden (Mammalia) der Oberen Süsswasser-Molasse Bayerns: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, Abhandlungen, Neue Folge, v. 118, p. 1–136.Google Scholar
Fahlbusch, V., 1969, Pliozäne und pleistozäne Cricetinae (Rodentia, Mammalia) aus Polen: Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, v. 14, p. 99–137.Google Scholar
Fejfar, O., 1970, Die plio-pleistozänen Wirbeltierfaunen von Hajnáčka und Ivanovce (Slowakei), p. ČSSR. IV. Cricetidae (Rodentia, Mammalia): Mitteilungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und historische Geologie, v. 10, p. 277–296.Google Scholar
Fejfar, O., 1990, The Neogene Vertebrate Paleontology sites of Czechoslovakia: A contribution to the Neogene terrestric Biostratigraphy of Europe based on Rodents, in Lindsay E.H., Fahlbusch V., and Mein P., eds. European Neogene Mammal Chronology. New-York, Proceedings NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Reisensburg 1988: New York, Plenum Press, p. 211–236.Google Scholar
Fejfar, O., Heinrich, W.-D., Kordos, L., and Maul, L.C., 2011, Microtoid cricetids and the early history of arvicolids (Mammalia, Rodentia): Palaeontologia Electronica, v. 14, 38 p. palaeo-electronica.org/2011_3/6_fejfar Google Scholar
Fischer, J.G., 1817, Adversaria zoologica: Mémoires de la Société Impérialle Naturelle (Moscow) v. 5, p. 368–428.Google Scholar
Freudenthal, M., 1966, On the mammalian fauna of the Hipparion-beds in the Calatayud-Teruel Basin (prov. Zaragoza, Spain). Part 1: The genera Cricetodon and Ruscinomys (Rodentia): Proceedings Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, v. 69, p. 296–317.Google Scholar
Freudenthal, M., 1967, On the mammalian fauna of the Hipparion-beds in the Calatayud-Teruel Basin (prov. Zaragoza, Spain). Part 3: Democricetodon and Rotundomys (Rodentia): Proceedings Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, v. 70, p. 298–315.Google Scholar
Freudenthal, M., and Kordos, L., 1989, Cricetus polgardiensis sp. nov. and Cricetus kormosi Schaub, 1930 from the Late Miocene Polgardi localities (Hungary): Scripta Geologica, v. 89, p. 71–100.Google Scholar
Freudenthal, M., Lacomba, J.I., and Martin Suárez, E., 1991, The Cricetidae (Mammalia, Rodentia) from the Late Miocene of Crevillente (prov. Alicante, Spain): Scripta Geologica, v. 96, p. 9–46.Google Scholar
Freudenthal, M., Hugueney, M., and Moissenet, E., 1994, The genus Pseudocricetodon (Cricetidae, Mammalia) in the Upper Oligocene of the province of Teruel (Spain): Scripta Geologica, v. 104, p. 57–114.Google Scholar
Freudenthal, M., Mein, P., and Martin Suarez, E., 1998, Revision of Late Miocene and Pliocene Cricetinae (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Spain and France: Treballs Museu Geologia Barcelona, v. 7, p. 5–83.Google Scholar
Gomes Rodrigues, H., Marivaux, L., and Vianey-Liaud, M., 2010, Phylogeny and systematic revision of Eocene Cricetidae (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Central and East Asia: on the origin of cricetid rodents: Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, v. 48, p. 259–268.Google Scholar
Hartenberger, J.-L., 1966, Les Cricetidae (Rodentia) de Can Llobateres (Néogène d’Espagne): Bulletin de la Société géologique de France, v. 7, p. 487–498.Google Scholar
Heissig, K., 1995, Die Entwicklung der großen Democricetodon-Arten und die Gattung Collimys (Cricetidae, Mammalia) im späten Mittelmiozän: Mitteilungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und historische Geologie, v. 35, p. 87–108.Google Scholar
Hugueney, M., and Mein, P., 1965, Lagomorphes et rongeurs du Néogène de Lissieu (Rhône): Travaux du Laboratoire de Géologie de la Faculté des Sciences de Lyon, v. 12, p. 109–123.Google Scholar
Kordos, L., 1987, Karstocricetus skofleki gen. n., sp. n. and the evolution of the Late Neogene Cricetidae in the Carpathian Basin: Fragmenta Mineralogica et Palaeontologica, v. 13, p. 65–88.Google Scholar
Kälin, D., 1999, Tribe Cricetini, in Rössner, G.E., and Heissig, K., eds. Land Mammals of Europe, München, Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, p. 373–385.Google Scholar
Kälin, D., and Engesser, B., 2001, Die jungmiozäne Säugetierfauna vom Nebelbergweg bei Nunningen (Kanton Solothurn, Schweiz): Schweizerische Paläontologische Abhandlungen, v. 121, p. 1–61.Google Scholar
Kretzoi, M., 1951, The Hipparion–Fauna from Csákvár: Földtani Közlöny, v. 81, p. 384–417.Google Scholar
Kretzoi, M., and Fejfar, O., 2004, Sciurids and Cricetids (Mammalia, Rodentia) from Rudabánya: Palaeontographia Italica, v. 90, p. 113–148.Google Scholar
Lungu, A.N., 1978, Gipparionovaya fauna srednego sarmata Moldavii (khishnye mlekopitayushie) [The Hipparion fauna of the Middle Sarmatian of Moldavia (Carnivora, Mammalia)], Kishinev, Shtiintsa, 132 p. [In Russian]Google Scholar
Lungu, A.N., 1981, Gipparionovaya fauna srednego sarmata Moldavii (nasekomoyadnye, zaytseobraznye, gryzuny) [The Hipparion fauna of the Middle Sarmatian of Moldavia (Insectivora, Lagomorpha, Rodentia)]: Kishinev, Shtiintsa, 140 p. [In Russian]Google Scholar
Lungu, A., and Rzebik-Kowalska, B., 2011, Faunal assemblages, stratigraphy and taphonomy of the Late Miocene localities in the Republic of Moldova: Kraków, Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals Polish Academy of Sciences, 62 p.Google Scholar
Maddison, W.P., and Maddison, D.R., 2003, Mesquite: a modular system for evolutionary analysis, ver. 0.994, http://mesquiteproject.org (Accessed 28 June 2016).Google Scholar
Maridet, O., and Ni, X., 2013, A new cricetid rodent from the early Oligocene of Yunnan, China, and its evolutionary implications for early Eurasian cricetids: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, v. 33, p. 185–194.Google Scholar
Maridet, O., Daxner-Höck, G., Dadamgarav, D., and Göhlich, U., 2014, Cricetidae (Rodentia Mammalia) from the Valley of Lakes (Central Mongolia): focus on the Miocene record: Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien, v. 116, p. 247–269.Google Scholar
McKenna, M.C., and Bell, S.K., 1997, Classification of Mammals above the Species Level, New York, Columbia University Press, 631 p.Google Scholar
Mein, P., 1990, Updating of MN Zones, in Lindsay E.H., Fahlbusch V., and Mein P., eds. European Neogene Mammal Chronology. New-York, Proceedings NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Reisensburg 1988: New York, Plenum Press, p. 73–89.Google Scholar
Mein, P., 1999, The late Miocene small mammal succession from France, with emphasis on the Rhône Valley localities, in Agustí, J., Rook, L., and Andrews, P., eds. The Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems in Europe Volume 1. Hominoid Evolution and Climatic Change in Europe, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p. 140–164.Google Scholar
Mein, P., and Freudenthal, M., 1971, Une nouvelle classification des Cricetidae (Mammalia, Rodentia) du Tertiaire de l’Europe: Scripta Geologica, v. 2, p. 1–37.Google Scholar
Neumann, K., Michaux, J., Lebedev, V., Yigit, N., Colak, E., Ivanova, N., Poltoraus, A., Surov, A., Markov, G., Maak, S., Neumann, S., and Gattermann, R., 2006, Molecular phylogeny of the Cricetinae subfamily based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b and 12S rRNA genes and the nuclear vWF gene: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, v. 39, p. 135–148.Google Scholar
Nesin, V.A., 2004, Stratigraphic position of the Late Neogene small mammal localities of Ukraine, in Gozhik, P.F., ed. Problemy stratygrafii fanerozoyu: Kiev, Nora-print, p. 195–199. [in Russian]Google Scholar
Nesin, V.A., and Nadachowski, A., 2001, Late Miocene and Pliocene small mammal faunas (Insectivora, Lagomorpha, Rodentia) of Southeastern Europe: Acta zoologica cracoviensia, v. 44, p. 107–135.Google Scholar
Ni, X.-J., and Qiu, Z.-D., 2002, The micromammalian fauna from the Leilao, Yuanmou hominoid locality: Implication for Biochronology and Paleoecology: Journal of Human Evolution, v. 42, p. 535–546.Google Scholar
Prieto, J., and Rummel, M., 2009, The genus Collimys DaxneR-Höck, 1972 (Rodentia, Cricetidae) in the Middle Miocene fissure fillings of the Frankian Albs (Germany): Zitteliana, A, v. 48/49, p. 75–88.Google Scholar
Qi, G.-Q., Dong, W., Zheng, L., Zhao, L., Gao, F., Yue, L.-P., and Zhang, Y.-X., 2006, Taxonomy, age and environment status of the Yuanmou hominoids: Chinese Science Bulletin, v. 51, p. 704–712.Google Scholar
Qiu, Z., 1995, A new cricetid from the Lufeng hominoid locality, late Miocene of China: Vertebrata PalAsiatica, v. 33, p. 61–73.Google Scholar
Qiu, Z., and Qiu, Z., 1995, Chronological sequence and subdivision of Chinese Neogene mammalian faunas: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 116, p. 41–70.Google Scholar
Qiu, Z., Wu, W., and Qiu, Z., 1999, Miocene mammal faunal sequence of China: paleozoogeography and Eurasien relationships, in Rössner, G.E., and Heissig, K., eds. Land Mammals of Europe: München, Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, p. 443–445.Google Scholar
Qiu, Z.-D., Wang, X., and Li, Q., 2013, Neogene Faunal Succession and Biochronology of Central Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), in Wang, X., Flynn, L., G., and Fortelius, M., eds. Fossil Mammals of Asia: New York, Columbia University Press, p. 29–90.Google Scholar
Qiu, Z.-X., Qiu, Z.-D., Deng, T., Li, C.- K., Zhang, Z.-Q., Wang, B.-Y., and Wang, X., 2013, Neogene Land Mammal Stages/Ages of China. Toward the Goal to Establish an Asian Land Mammal Stage/Age Scheme, in Wang, X., Flynn, L., G., and Fortelius, M., eds. Fossil Mammals of Asia: New York, Columbia University Press, p. 156–176.Google Scholar
Reig, O.A., 1977, The evolutionary history of the South American cricetid rodents [Ph.D. thesis]: University of London, 451 p.Google Scholar
Rzebik-Kowalska, B. and Lungu, A., 2009, Insectivore mammals from the Late Miocene of the Republic of Moldova: Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, v. 52, p. 11–60.Google Scholar
Sesé, C., 2006, Los roedores y lagomorfos del Neógeno de España: Estudios Geológicos, v. 62, p. 429–480.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schaub, S., 1930, Quartäre und jungtertiäre Hamster: Abhandlungen der Schweizerischen Paläontologischen Gesellschaft, v. 49, p. 1–49.Google Scholar
Schaub, S., 1934, Über einige fossile Simplicidentaten aus China und der Mongolei: Abhandlungen der Schweizerischen Paläontologischen Gesellschaft, v. 54, 1–40.Google Scholar
Sinitsa, M.V., 2010, Cricetids (Rodentia, Mammalia) from the Upper Miocene of Egorovka locality: Vestnik zoologii, v. 44, p. 209–225. [In Russian with English summary]Google Scholar
Sinitsa, M.V., 2012, Cricetids (Mammalia, Rodentia) from the Late Miocene locality Palievo, Southern Ukraine: Vestnik Zoologii, v. 46, p. 137–147. [In Russian with English summary]Google Scholar
Sűmengen, M., Űnay, E., Saraç, G., de Bruijn, H., Terlemez, I., and Gűrbűz, M., 1990, New Neogene rodent assemblages from Anatolia (Turkey), in Lindsay E.H., Fahlbusch V., and Mein P., eds. European Neogene Mammal Chronology. New-York, Proceedings NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Reisensburg 1988, New York, Plenum Press, p. 61–72.Google Scholar
Swofford, D. L., 1999, PAUP*4.0 b10. Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony (*and Other Methods), version 4: Sunderland, Massachusetts, Sinauer Associates.Google Scholar
Tong, Y., 1992, Pappocricetodon, a pre-Oligocene cricetid genus (Rodentia) from central China: Vertebrata PalAsiatica, v. 30, p. 1–16.Google Scholar
Topachevsky, V.A., and Skorik, A.F., 1992, Neogenovye i pleystocenovye nizhie khomiakoobraznye yuga Vostochnoy Evropy [The Neogene and Pleistocene lower Cricetids of SE Europe], Kiev, Naukova Dumka, 242 p. [In Russian]Google Scholar
Topachevsky, V.A., Nesin, V.A., and Topachevsky, I.V., 1997, An essay on small mammal fauna history (Insectivora, Lagomorpha, Rodentia) in the Ukraine during the middle Sarmatian-Aktchagylian time interval: Vestnik Zoologii, v. 31, p. 3–14. [In Russian with English summary]Google Scholar
Vasiliev, I., Iosifidi, A.G., Khramov, A.N., Krijgsman, W., Kuiper, K., Langereis, C.G., Popov, V.V., Stoica, M., Tomsha, V.A., and Yudin, S.V., 2011, Magnetostratigraphy and radio-isotope dating of upper Miocene–lower Pliocene sedimentary successions of the Black Sea Basin (Taman Peninsula, Russia): Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 310, p. 163–175.Google Scholar
Vangengeim, E.A., Lungu, A.N., and Tesakov, A.S., 2006, Age of the Vallesian Lower Boundary (Continental Miocene of Europe): Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation, v. 14, p. 655–667.Google Scholar
Wu, W., 1991, The Neogene mammalian faunas of Ertemte and Harr Obo in Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol), p. China. 9, Hamsters: Cricetine (Rodentia): Senckenbergiana lethaea, v. 71, p. 257–305.Google Scholar
Young, C.C., 1927, Fossile Nagetiere aus Nord-China: Palaeontologica Sinica, v. 5, p. 1–82.Google Scholar
Zhang, Z., Wang, L., Liu, Y., and Liu, L., 2011, A new species of Late Miocene hamster (Cricetidae, Rodentia) from Damiao, Nei Mongol: Vertebrata PalAsiatica, v. 49, p. 201–209.Google Scholar
Zhang, Z.-Q., Zheng, S.-H., and Liu, L.-P., 2008, Late Miocene cricetids from the Bahe Formation, Lantian, Shaanxi Province: Vertebrata PalAsiatica, v. 46, p. 307–316.Google Scholar
Zheng, S., 1984, A Revision of the fossil cricetines (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Zhoukoudian, the Peking Man Site: Vertebrata PalAsiatica, v. 22, p. 179–197.Google Scholar
Zheng, S., 1984, A new species of Kowalskia (Rodentia, Mammalia) of Yinan, Shandong: Vertebrata PalAsiatica, v. 22, p. 251–260.Google Scholar
Zheng, S. and Li, Y., 1982, Some Pliocene lagomorphs and rodents from Loc. 1 of Songshan, Tianzhu Xian, Gansu Province: Vertebrata PalAsiatica, v. 20, p. 35–44.Google Scholar