Sinotamias is a geographically and temporally widespread genus of marmotine ground squirrels from the Neogene of Asia and eastern Europe. Here, we revise the eastern European members of the genus and describe two new species from the Late Miocene of Ukraine and Moldova. The first, Sinotamias lungui sp. nov., is a small and early species that retains a complete lingual metaloph and weak metaconule of M1-2 and mesoconids on p4. The second, S. topachevskyi sp. nov., is a larger, transitional species, roughly intermediate in size and dental morphology between S. lungui and more derived S. gromovi, with a weak P4 metaconule and a three-rooted m3. We also describe additional material of S. gromovi. The three temporally successive eastern European species of Sinotamias form an anagenetically evolving lineage, evidenced by a gradual change towards more cuspate dentition with rudimentary lingual mesoloph; voluminous, posteriorly shifted metaconules; more defined posterior valley of M3; longer metalophids; and strongly arched, posteriorly tapered ectoloph of p4–m3 lacking a mesoconid. The morphological trends are accompanied by M2, M3, m2 and m3 size increase and is consistent with the biostratigraphic distribution of Sinotamias species throughout the Turolian of eastern Europe.
Язык оригиналаАнглийский
Страницы (с-по)1917-1934
Число страниц18
ЖурналHistorical biology
Том35
Номер выпуска10
DOI
СостояниеОпубликовано - 3 окт. 2023

    Предметные области ASJC Scopus

  • Сельскохозяйственные и биологические науки в целом

    Предметные области WoS

  • Биология
  • Палеонтология

ID: 45139283