A giant rhinocerotoid (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the Late Oligocene of north-central Anatolia (Turkey)

A giant rhinocerotoid is described for the first time south of the Black Sea, in Turkey. The single specimen, a fragmentary radius referred to Paraceratherium sp., originates from conglomerates nearby at Gözükizilli, in the Çankiri–Çorum Tertiary basin. These layers correspond to the Lower member of the Kizilirmak Formation. The same locality (Gözükizilli-2) yields also the small rhinocerotid Protaceratherium sp., cf. P. albigense (Roman, 1912). Three other mammal localities (Gözükizilli-1, in the Lower Member of the formation, with several rodent species; Tepe 641 and Kizilirmak, in the Upper Member, with a diversified micro- and macro-mammal fauna) allow us to refer the Kizilirmak Formation as a whole to the Late Oligocene. All the observed taxa have strong Asian and/or European affinities, which precludes any geographical insulation for this part of Anatolia during the Late Oligocene.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 152 , 581–592.     

Phylogeny of Acomys spinosissimus (Rodentia, Muridae) from north Malawi and Tanzania: evidence from morphological and molecular analysis

New specimens of Acomys spinosissimus from northern Malawi and southern Tanzania were subjected to morphological, molecular (cytochrome b mitochondrial gene) and cytogenetical analysis in order to establish the phylogenetic position of these populations among A. spinosissimus, as well as their relationships with other species (A. subspinosus and A. wilsoni). The monophyly of the spinosissimus clade is supported by morphological and molecular phylogenies. Cytogenetics and morphology, but not the cytochrome b phylogeny show the possible existence of two sibling species within spinosissimus. Incongruences are noted between molecular and morphological trees, especially concerning the position of the Transvaal specimens. Two different biogeographic scenarios for the origin and dispersal of A. spinosissimus are discussed in the light of available palaeontological data.