Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 39(1) 1996

Issue:

VOL 39(1) 1996

Keywords:

Microtus, Allophaiomys, Blanfordimys, Phaiomys, Neodon, Pleistocene, relicts, evolution

Download PDF

Share this article:

Recent Allophaiomys-like species: Pleistocene relicts or a return to an initial type

• Adam NADACHOWSKI
• Igor ZAGORODNYUK

Abstract:

Recent Allophaiomys-like voles from the Palaearctic belong to Blanfordimys, Phaiomys and Neodon and form a group of about 6-8 species. They are characterized by a number of primitive features, e. g., simple molar morphology and high diploid chromosome numbers. Their ranges are small and located in the southern parts of the distribution of Arvicolini. All these features are characteristic of Pleistocene relicts. Mechanisms in the evolution of Allophaiomys - Microtus are discussed.