Oryzorictes tetradactylus Milne-Edwards and A. Grandidier, 1882

Denys, Christiane, Gabriel, Nadine W., Lalis, Aude & Jenkins, Paulina, 2024, Subfossil rodents and tenrecs of Children’s Cave, Madagascar, Journal of Natural History 58 (25 - 28), pp. 796-839 : 819

Oryzorictes tetradactylus Milne-Edwards and A. Grandidier, 1882

Attributed material: Inner recess (Superficial): 1 cranium. Upper Stratum: 70 maxillae and maxillary fragments; 81 mandibular rami; see Appendix.

As in other genera, the anterior dentition is less frequently preserved than molars, with incisors rarely and canines occasionally present. Deciduous incisors were present on the anterior cranium of one specimen, but judging by the dentition, and by measurements, most of the Children’s Cave subfossils are adult and fit within the variability of the modern species ( Figure 13 ).

Figures

Figure 13. Measurements of subfossil specimens of Oryzorictes tetradactylus from the Children’s Cave in comparison with modern representatives of the species from Antsirabe. Measurements in millimetres. ARL: ascending ramus length; MH: mandible height.