Spalax denizliensis sp. nov. (Spalacidae, Rodentia) from an Early Pleistocene-aged locality in the Denizli Basin (southwestern Turkey)

Authors

HÜSEYİN ERTEN

DOI

10.3906/zoo-1707-35

Abstract

It is thought that Spalacidae (Rodentia, Mammalia) originated in Anatolia. They are widespread among Neogene-aged faunas in Anatolia and they are used as zonal fossils because of their strong evolutionary dynamics. Only one fossil species (S. odessanus, Middle Pliocene) has been identified from the genus Spalax, which has more than 14 species presently. There are no fossil findings of this genus in Anatolia. Early Pleistocene-aged Spalax denizliensis sp. nov. from the Denizli Basin is the youngest fossil Spalax species and it will be helpful to understand the evolution of recent Spalax species.

Keywords

Spalax, new species, Early Pleistocene, Denizli, Turkey

First Page

62

Last Page

67

Recommended Citation

ERTEN, HÜSEYİN (2018) "Spalax denizliensis sp. nov. (Spalacidae, Rodentia) from an Early Pleistocene-aged locality in the Denizli Basin (southwestern Turkey)," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 42: No. 1, Article 7. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1707-35
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol42/iss1/7