Asoriculus, Kretzoi, 1959

Rzebik-Kowalska, Barbara & Rekovets, Leonid I., 2016, New data on Eulipotyphla (Insectivora, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene to the Middle Pleistocene of Ukraine, Palaeontologia Electronica 12 (1), pp. 1-31 : 16-18

Genus ASORICULUS Kretzoi, 1959 cf. Asoriculus sp.

Figure 9.1-9.2

Material. Popovo 3 ( MN 11), two right fragments of mandibles, one with coronoid and condyloid processes, the second with m2–m3, without processes. MNI = 2. Catalogue number 29/ III/9. Verkhnya Krynitsa 2 ( MN 11/ MN 12), right fragment of mandible with m1 (damaged on the buccal side), fragment of m2 and fragment of m3. MNI = 1. Catalogue number 29/2/9.

Description. The m2 ( Figure 9.2 ) has a wider talonid than the trigonid, its entoconid crest is fairly high, the lingual lower margin slightly convex (navicular), the buccal re-entrant valley opens directly above the cingulid and cingulids are distinct, the anterior and buccal are wider and more protruding than the lingual and posterior ones. The m3 ( Figure 9.2 ) is relatively large. Its talonid is unreduced, elongated and basined, possessing a trace of the hypoconid and entoconid. The anterior margin of the mandible is rather straight and its posterior margin is concave. The coronoid spicule is well developed and placed low, i.e., about halfway between the tip of the coronoid process and the upper sigmoid notch. The external temporal fossa is shallow, and it reaches halfway down the condyloid process ( Figure 9.1 ). The internal temporal fossa is relatively small, and it continues upwards as a shallow groove. The upper and lower facets of the condyle are damaged and the interarticular area is narrow. Two mandibular foramina are present (catalogue number 29/III/9/1).

Measurements. See Table 7.

Systematic Position and Distribution. The size and characters of the remains and especially the low position of the coronoid spicule and narrow interarticular area of the condyloid process opted for their ascription to the tribe Neomyini and the genus Asoriculus . However, some differences between the typical Asoriculus and specimens from Ukraine are visible. These include a rather high entoconid crest in m2 (slightly higher than general in Asoriculus species), two mandibular foramina (instead of one) and the anterior margin of the coronoid process rather straight (instead of concave). As the available material is very poor and damaged, its precise identification is impossible especially since individual variation of particular characters of the rare Miocene forms is unknown. Similar old and poor material (one fragment of mandible) was already mentioned from Frunzovka 2 (MN10) in Ukraine and one upper incisor I1 from neighboring Kejnar, MN10, in Republic of Moldova ( Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu 2009). Other specimens yielded younger localities dated to MN13 (e.g., Maramena in Greece, Doukas et al., 1995). On the other hand, the genus was widely distributed in Europe (from Spain to Bulgaria and Greece; van den Hoek Ostende et al., 2005; Rzebik-Kowalska, 2009) throughout the Pliocene and the Early Pleistocene. It survived until the end of the Early Pleistocene. It was also excavated in Asia Minor ( Storch et al., 1998; Early Pliocene) and in North Africa ( Morocco; Rzebik-Kowalska, 1988; Stoetzel, 2013; Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary).

Figures

FIGURE 9. (1-2) cf. Asoriculus sp. from Popovo 3: 1, fragment of right mandible with coronoid process, buccal view (c.n. 29/III/9/1). 2, fragment of right mandible with m2-m3, lingual view (c.n. 29/III/9/2). (3) Neomysorex alpinoides from Verkhnya Krynitsa 2, fragment of right mandible with p4–m3, lingual view (c.n. 29/2/10/1), (4-6) Neomys newtoni from Medzhybozh: 4, left condyloid process, posterior view (c.n. 29/4/11/2); fragment of left mandible with m1–m2, in 5, lingual, and 6, occlusal view (c.n. 29/4/11/1).