Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 39(1) 1996

Issue:

VOL 39(1) 1996

Keywords:

Rodents, murid, gerbillid, Turolian, Messinian, Late Miocene

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The late Turolian muroid rodent succession in eastern Spain

• Jorge AGUSTÍ
• Manel LLENAS

Abstract:

In this paper we present a review of the muroid succession in the late Turolian basins of Spain. The basins of Fortuna, Mula and Teruel, as well as isolated localities like Almenara-M, are taken into account in this analysis. Five main events, recording the entry of Stephanomys, Parasaidomys, Paraethomys, Protatera and aff. Protatera sp., are recognized. The new genus Parasaidomys is described for the new species P. kowalskii and other populations of large murids that are found in the lowermost late Turolian levels of the Fortuna and Teruel basins. The dispersal events in the Spanish late Turolian are the result of the commingling of two major zoogeographic realms. The first, of mainly northern Palaearctic character, includes the dispersals of Apodemus, Rhagapodemus, Pseudocricetus and perhaps Paraethomys. The second, corresponding to an Afro-Asiatic province, includes the entry of Parasaidomys in the very early late Turolian and the entry of Protatera, Myocricetodon, Pseudomeriones, Calomyscus and others at the end of this mammal stage.