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A new subfamily of geomyoid rodents (Mammalia) and a possible origin of Geomyidae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

William W. Korth
Affiliation:
Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology, 928 Whalen Rd., Penfield, NY 14526 and Department of Earth Science and Science Education, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY 14222
Dan S. Chaney
Affiliation:
Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560

Abstract

Two new species, Mojavemys galushai and Phelosaccomys neomexicanus, are described from the Barstovian of New Mexico. Both of these species are assigned to a new subfamily, the Mojavemyinae. It is uncertain as to whether this new subfamily should be referred to the Heteromyidae or Geomyidae.

Both Mojavemys an Phelosaccomys retain some heteromyid characteristics while developing advanced traits of geomyids. It is possible that these genera represent transitional forms between a heteromyid ancestor and advanced geomyines, thus deriving the Geomyidae directly from the Heteromyidae sometime in the middle Tertiary. It is also possible that the Mojavemyinae are a subfamily of heteromyids only convergent with geomyids. A third possiblity is that the mojavemyines are among a group of middle Tertiary geomyoids from which both Recent heteromyids and geomyids were derived.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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