ABSTRACT A revision of the Early-Middle Miocene anguine, Pseudopus laurillardi (Lartet, 1851), is... more ABSTRACT A revision of the Early-Middle Miocene anguine, Pseudopus laurillardi (Lartet, 1851), is presented based on a detailed anatomical analysis of one newly discovered articulated specimen and numerous disarticulated cranial and postcranial elements from several localities in Germany, as well as on the restudy of the original skeletal material of Lartet. The articulated specimen represents the first record of an articulated anguine from the Neogene.We demonstrate that the contemporaneous anguine Propseudopus fraasii (= Pseudopus fraasi, Pseudopus moguntinus or Ophisaurus moguntinus) from Germany and elsewhere in Europe represents a junior synonym of P. laurillardi. Three species of Pseudopus can by discriminated in the Cenozoic of Eurasia: P. laurillardi (Early-Middle Miocene of Europe), P. pannonicus (Late Miocene-Middle Pleistocene of central and easternEurope) and P. apodus (Late Pleistocene-Recent, from Eastern Europe to central Asia). Elevenmorphological characters of the skull have been identified that distinguish Pseudopus laurillardi from P. pannonicus and P. apodus. Four of these characters regard the frontal and parietal bones, whereas all other characters regard the dentary and dentition. The genus Pseudopus represents the largest and most robust taxon in the subfamily Anguinae and first occurs in central Europe at the beginning of MN 4 (— 18.5 Ma). In contrast to the extant species, P. apodus, the fossils P. laurillardi and P.pannonicus had a greater ecological plasticity and lived in various types of environments. The fossil remains of these taxa are most frequently found in localities characterized by sub-humid to humid climate, which may indicate that their preferential habitats include forested environments.
ABSTRACT Le remplissage de la fissure bavaroise Petersbuch 28 (Miocène inférieur, MN 3/4, Allemag... more ABSTRACT Le remplissage de la fissure bavaroise Petersbuch 28 (Miocène inférieur, MN 3/4, Allemagne) a livré une faune diversifiée de musaraignes. Les taxons Soricella discrepans Doben-Florin, 1964 et Paenelimnoecus micromorphus (Doben-Florin, 1964) présentent une distribution bimodale pour certaines variables dentaires que nous interprétons ici comme la conséquence d’un intervalle de temps prolongé d’accumulation des fossiles. De même, deux classes de taille d’incisives supérieures de Miosorex desnoyersianus (Lartet, 1851) ont été observées, suggérant également la présence de deux populations diachrones. En plus de ces espèces, le site a livré Heterosorex neumayrianus (Schlosser, 1887), l’unique hétérosoricidé représenté, Lartetium petersbuchense Ziegler, 1989, L. cf. prevostianum (Lartet, 1851) et Florinia stehlini (Doben-Florin, 1964). Ces soricidés confirment que l’âge de Petersbuch 28 correspond à un intervalle de temps proche de la transition MN3/MN4. Ce site comble ainsi une lacune entre les localités de Wintershof-West et de Petersbuch 2. Les deux espèces de Lartetium Ziegler, 1989 sont considérées comme de probables immigrants.
ABSTRACT The dP4 of Desmanella engesseriZiegler, 1985 from a maxillary which includes the P2 and ... more ABSTRACT The dP4 of Desmanella engesseriZiegler, 1985 from a maxillary which includes the P2 and P3 in crypt, the P4 in eruption and fully erupted dP4 and M1, is described from Petersbuch 28 (Germany; Lower Miocene, MN3/4). The maxillary was studied using X-ray microtomography to make detailed images of the internal and external features of the sample. This is the first record of a dP4 from DesmanellaEngesser, 1972. Its shape is unique for fossil talpids, possessing the apomorphic feature of replacing the protocone with a large lingual cingulum. The functional use of deciduous teeth and the process that led to the complete loss of milk teeth in extant talpids are discussed.
ABSTRACT A revision of the Early-Middle Miocene anguine, Pseudopus laurillardi (Lartet, 1851), is... more ABSTRACT A revision of the Early-Middle Miocene anguine, Pseudopus laurillardi (Lartet, 1851), is presented based on a detailed anatomical analysis of one newly discovered articulated specimen and numerous disarticulated cranial and postcranial elements from several localities in Germany, as well as on the restudy of the original skeletal material of Lartet. The articulated specimen represents the first record of an articulated anguine from the Neogene.We demonstrate that the contemporaneous anguine Propseudopus fraasii (= Pseudopus fraasi, Pseudopus moguntinus or Ophisaurus moguntinus) from Germany and elsewhere in Europe represents a junior synonym of P. laurillardi. Three species of Pseudopus can by discriminated in the Cenozoic of Eurasia: P. laurillardi (Early-Middle Miocene of Europe), P. pannonicus (Late Miocene-Middle Pleistocene of central and easternEurope) and P. apodus (Late Pleistocene-Recent, from Eastern Europe to central Asia). Elevenmorphological characters of the skull have been identified that distinguish Pseudopus laurillardi from P. pannonicus and P. apodus. Four of these characters regard the frontal and parietal bones, whereas all other characters regard the dentary and dentition. The genus Pseudopus represents the largest and most robust taxon in the subfamily Anguinae and first occurs in central Europe at the beginning of MN 4 (— 18.5 Ma). In contrast to the extant species, P. apodus, the fossils P. laurillardi and P.pannonicus had a greater ecological plasticity and lived in various types of environments. The fossil remains of these taxa are most frequently found in localities characterized by sub-humid to humid climate, which may indicate that their preferential habitats include forested environments.
ABSTRACT Le remplissage de la fissure bavaroise Petersbuch 28 (Miocène inférieur, MN 3/4, Allemag... more ABSTRACT Le remplissage de la fissure bavaroise Petersbuch 28 (Miocène inférieur, MN 3/4, Allemagne) a livré une faune diversifiée de musaraignes. Les taxons Soricella discrepans Doben-Florin, 1964 et Paenelimnoecus micromorphus (Doben-Florin, 1964) présentent une distribution bimodale pour certaines variables dentaires que nous interprétons ici comme la conséquence d’un intervalle de temps prolongé d’accumulation des fossiles. De même, deux classes de taille d’incisives supérieures de Miosorex desnoyersianus (Lartet, 1851) ont été observées, suggérant également la présence de deux populations diachrones. En plus de ces espèces, le site a livré Heterosorex neumayrianus (Schlosser, 1887), l’unique hétérosoricidé représenté, Lartetium petersbuchense Ziegler, 1989, L. cf. prevostianum (Lartet, 1851) et Florinia stehlini (Doben-Florin, 1964). Ces soricidés confirment que l’âge de Petersbuch 28 correspond à un intervalle de temps proche de la transition MN3/MN4. Ce site comble ainsi une lacune entre les localités de Wintershof-West et de Petersbuch 2. Les deux espèces de Lartetium Ziegler, 1989 sont considérées comme de probables immigrants.
ABSTRACT The dP4 of Desmanella engesseriZiegler, 1985 from a maxillary which includes the P2 and ... more ABSTRACT The dP4 of Desmanella engesseriZiegler, 1985 from a maxillary which includes the P2 and P3 in crypt, the P4 in eruption and fully erupted dP4 and M1, is described from Petersbuch 28 (Germany; Lower Miocene, MN3/4). The maxillary was studied using X-ray microtomography to make detailed images of the internal and external features of the sample. This is the first record of a dP4 from DesmanellaEngesser, 1972. Its shape is unique for fossil talpids, possessing the apomorphic feature of replacing the protocone with a large lingual cingulum. The functional use of deciduous teeth and the process that led to the complete loss of milk teeth in extant talpids are discussed.
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Papers by Michael Rummel