Leonid Rekovets

Pannonicola and Ischymomys – what makes the difference? About two genera close to the base of Arvicolinae (Cricetidae, Rodentia)

Abstract

Pannonicola and Ischymomys are two extinct genera of the family Cricetidae, and both of them were placed at the base of the evolutionary trunk of the subfamily Arvicolinae. Over the last 100 years, the latter has provided the most important fossils for the biostratigraphy of terrestrial Neogene and Quaternary deposits of the Holarctic. The type material of Pannonicola comprises only one m2 and one m3. The first finds of Ischymomys were initially rare, not figured, and their nomenclatural status was faced with various problems. Some authors finally assumed that Ischymomys was a junior synonym of Pannonicola. In this paper, we use new finds from the territory of Ukraine and previously published data to show that Ischymomys is an independent genus, and that the finds described as Pannonicola should probably be placed in the genus Microtodon.

Key words

basal arvicolines, microtoid cricetids, taxonomy, Late Miocene

PDF

The ultrastructure of the tooth enamel of small Equus of the “tarpan” group and their possible phylogenetic connections

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of the ultrastructure of tooth enamel (incisors, premolars and molars) in representatives of morphologically (and possibly phylogenetically) similar forms of small horses. These are both extinct forms of tarpan – Equus gmelini from various sites of the early Holocene of Ukraine (Myrne, Kamiana Mohyla and Hirzhevo) and modern forms – konik polski and E. przewalskii, and European wild ass – E. hydruntinus. Morphology of prisms in different layers of tooth enamel and its relative relationships in various taxa were thoroughly described. The data obtained in the form of tables and graphs, with the appropriate statistical processing thereof, show the morphological similarity of tarpan remains from different sites, and their similarity to the konik polski and Przewalski’s horse. However, the European wild ass differs significantly from the other groups studied. In equines, the radial enamel varieties (types І, ІІ and ІІІ) have evolutionary tendencies to strengthen the first and second types of hydroxyapatite prisms, while reducing the share of the IPM matrix in the enamel structure. In turn, the enamel of the incisors is characterized by lamellar enamel of the HSB uniserial type.

Key words

horse, tooth, enamel, morphology

PDF

Beavers (Castoridae, Rodentia) from the late Miocene (MN 9) locality Grytsiv in Ukraine

Abstract

Here we report about the presence of fossils belonging to different beaver lineages from the late Miocene (MN 9, Vallesian) of Grytsiv (western Ukraine). Among them, nine isolated molars were assigned to Chalicomys jaegeri and described in detail here for the first time. Morphologically and metrically these specimens fit well into the range known for this species from other localities. The teeth are of different wear stages, mainly moderately or strongly worn. Two other teeth (a germ and one with a little wear), are tentatively identified as belonging to a smaller-sized beaver resembling Euroxenomys minutus. This is based mainly on their smaller size as measured at the occlusal surface. Taxonomic status and palaeoecology of Chalicomys jaegeri and other species of this genus are discussed in the paper.

Key words

Chalicomys jaegeri, Euroxenomys minutus, teeth, morphology, Eastern Europe

PDF