• Sciurid remains from the Late Cenozoic fissure-fillings of Fanchang, Anhui, China

    分类: 生物学 >> 动物学 提交时间: 2017-11-07 合作期刊: 《古脊椎动物学报》

    摘要: Remains of sciurids from a late Cenozoic fissure in Anhui, China are described. Six texa, including one new genus and two new species, representing five genera and four tribes in the subfamily Sciurinae are recognized. They are Sciurus sp., Tamias sp., Plesiosciurus zhengi sp. nov., Sciurotamias wangi Qiu, 2002, S. teilhardi Zheng, 1993, and Pseudoratufa wanensis gen. et sp. nov. The material described was collected from four levels of the fissure fillings. On the basis of the fossil content and coloration, the collection is considered to be a mixed sample with elements representing a rather long interval, probably ranging from the Early Miocene to the Pleistocene. The assemblage shows similar traits of the late Cenozoic sciurine faunas from central and southern China, and contains an intriguing genus Pseudoratufa. Characters of the latter’s dentition clearly demonstrate that the new-comer of ratufin is a tree squirrel; Pseudoratufa is probably coeval with the Fanchang hominoid, and with Diatomys and beavers found in this fissure. The joint occurrence of these taxa seems to be indicative of existence of forest biotopes once in this district during the earlier Miocene.

  • Discovery of Yuomys from Altun Shan, Xinjiang, China

    分类: 生物学 >> 动物学 提交时间: 2017-11-07 合作期刊: 《古脊椎动物学报》

    摘要: Specimens reported in this note represent the first discovery of Yuomys in Altun Shan. A new species, Yuomys altunensis, is established based on the following features: molars large and wide in proportion; metaconule distinctly separated from metacone, metaloph long, but incomplete; hypocone smaller than protocone; sinus extending to base of crown on lingual side; postcingulum connectting lingual side of metacone; metacone crescent and postcingulum short in M3. Yuomys altunensis is similar to Y. cavioides, Y. eleganes and Y. huangzhuangensis of late Middle Eocene in molar morphlogy. According to its evolutionary level, Y. altunensis is supposed as of late Middle Eocene in age, or slightly later.