Abstract

Fossils of Metatheria and Eulipotyphla from the karstic fissures MWQ2/2003, MCQ3/2005 and MWQ4/2018 of Mokrá-Quarry (South Moravia, the Czech Republic) are studied. These Early Miocene fissures have yielded remains of the herpetotheriid Amphiperatherium frequens, together with the erinaceids Amphechinus cf. baudeloti, Galerix exilis, and G. symeonidisi. The talpid Talpa sp. has also been identified. The rare remains of Amphiperatherium frequens represent the first description of this species from the Early Miocene of the Czech Republic. The erinaceid Amphechinus cf. baudeloti could be a convenient structural ancestor of A. baudeloti, although the scarcity of remains hampered a clear taxonomic verdict. In addition, the relatively abundant remains of Galericinae in the studied fissures made it possible to identify a mixture of two Galerix species, G. exilis and G. symeonidisi. Their cooccurrence is evidenced at least in MWQ2/2003. The dentognathic and postcranial remains of Talpidae clearly point to Talpa sp. The relatively low diversity of insectivores recovered from Mokrá-Quarry fissures agree with previous studies concerning the paleoenvironmental reconstruction, depicting Mokrá-Quarry as a dry karst plateau close to water bodies and patches of woodland. The wide range of small mammal species found in Mokrá-Quarry fissures suggests a diverse regional environment, making Mokrá-Quarry a reference locality in the Early Miocene of Central Europe.

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Abstract

In memory of Oldřich Fejfar

Abstract

The original fossil record of Allosorex stenodus Fejfar, 1966 from Ivanovce (late Ruscinian, MN 15b) is redescribed and supplemented by the description of so far unpublished fossil remains, including upper dentition (P4 and M3) and a humerus fragment as well as the enamel microstructure analysis of m2. Based on the critical evaluation of other fossil remains from sites in Romania, Hungary, and France, the Ivanovce fossils are so far the only unquestionable recorded finds of A. stenodus in Europe, which can be considered as a local early Pliocene (MN 15) endemic species. Its occurrence is connected with the forested karst area along a broad valley of “pre-Váh” River, ecologically and climatically resembling the environment of modern karst areas in south-eastern Asia. Based on enamel microstructure analysis and unique mandible and dentition morphological characters, a separate taxonomical status of the species is also discussed.

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