Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 39(1) 1996

Issue:

VOL 39(1) 1996

Keywords:

Insectivores, Soricidae, late Miocene, early Pliocene, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, China

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Miocene/Pliocene insectivores from China and their relationship to European insectivores

• Gerhard STORCH
• Zhuding QIU

Abstract:

Insectivores from three local faunas are discussed. Lufeng, Yunnan Prov., South China, represents an equivalent of MN 11/12, while Ertemte and Bilike, Inner Mongolia, North China, are equivalents of MN 13 and MN 14, respectively. Lufeng insectivores show close affinities to European faunas of somewhat older age, while various Ertemte soricids belong to a potential source of younger invasions into Europe around the Miocene/Pliocene boundary. Alleged Tertiary relics among living East Asian insectivores, such as Blarinella, Anourosorex, Scapanulus, and Hylomys are known as fossils only slightly beyond their present ranges. The taxonomic positions of the species kormosi Schlosser, 1924 and inexspectatus Schlosser, 1924 is revised.