Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 36(2) 1993

Issue:

VOL 36(2) 1993

Keywords:

Evolution, morphotypes, Pliocene, Quaternary, Gliridae

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Evolution of Gliridae (Rodentia, Mammalia) in the Pliocene and Quaternary of Poland

• Ahmad DAOUD

Abstract:

An analysis of the dental characters of Pliocene and Pleistocene glirids (Myoxusminor, M. sackdillingenis, M. glis, Muscardinus pliocaenicus, M. avellanarius, M.dacicus, Dryomys nitedula, Eliomys quercinus, Glirulus pusillus) from Poland was undertaken. The frequency of morphotypes and tooth measurements in samples of  different geological age were compared with populations of the recent species. The observed intraspecific variation was in most cases casual. The morphotypes of cheek teeth have no adaptive value and are not subject to linear selection. The evolution is expressed by size increase (noted mainly in the Myoxus lineage) which is gradual withthe exception of Pliocene populations.