Type species

Plesiosorex soricinoides (de Blainville, Reference de Blainville1838).

Other referred species

Plesiosorex styriacus (Hofmann, Reference Hofmann1892); P. latidens (Hall, Reference Hall1929); P. germanicus (Seemann, Reference Seemann1938); P. coloradensis Wilson, Reference Wilson1960; P. schaffneri Engesser, Reference Engesser1972; P. donroosai Green, Reference Green1977; P. aydarlensis Kordikova, Reference Kordikova2000; P. roosi Franzen, Fejfar, and Storch Reference Franzen, Fejfar and Storch2003; P. greeni Martin and Lim, Reference Martin and Lim2004; P. evolutus Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a; P. martinii Engesser and Storch, Reference Engesser and Storch2008; P. fejfari Oshima, Tomida, and Orihara, Reference Oshima, Tomida and Orihara2017; P. shanqini Li, Reference Li2022.

Diagnosis

See Gunnell et al. (Reference Gunnel, Bown, Hutchson, Bloch, Janis, Gunnell and Uhen2008, p. 112).

Occurrence

Plesiosorex is a widespread genus identified from the late Oligocene to Late Miocene of Europe and the Miocene of North America and Asia (e.g., Schötz, Reference Schötz1989; Gunnell et al., Reference Gunnel, Bown, Hutchson, Bloch, Janis, Gunnell and Uhen2008; Li, Reference Li2022).

Holotype

Right M1, NHMW 2004z0182/0001, Schernham, Austria (Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a).

Figure 2.

Scanning electron photomicrographs of Plesiosorex evolutus from Borský Svätý Jur. (1) M1, BJ213480, with explanatory drawing; (2) fragment of p4, BJ213480. Image with underlined number is reversed.

H = 0.83

Diagnosis

See Ziegler (Reference Ziegler2006a, p. 109).

Occurrence

MN9 and MN10 of Austria (Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a) and MN9 of Slovakia (this paper).

Description

The M1 is a stout and rectangular element (Fig. 2.1). A low and wide postmetacrista connects the metacone to the posterolabial corner. The premetacrista is short. The metastylocone is weakly connected to the robust parastylocone. The latter is as high as the paracone. The labial basin is large and almost entirely closed. The anterolabial extension bears a distinct parastyle, included in a thin and curved crest starting from the base of the parastylocone and ending anterior to the paracone. This configuration creates a small anterolabial depression, as the postparacrista is short. The protocone is connected to the paracone and to the metaconule. The preprotocrista is high. The hypocone is connected to the metaconule by a low ridge. The hypoloph is enlarged. There is a premetaconule crest but no postmetaconule crest. Instead, there is a discontinuous succession of small irregularities (Fig. 2.1). Short anterior and lingual cingula are present.

The p4 has a high conical protoconid from which a sharp and straight paralophid extends. The paraconid is low. A robust and sharp posterior centrocristid connects the protoconid to the posterior margin, splitting the proto-talonid into two small basins (Fig. 2.2).

Remarks

The combination of a heavy metastylocone and the lack of clear postmetaconule crest on M1 is found in a single species of Plesiosorex, P. evolutus. The size of the M1 is intermediate between the specimen from Götzendorf (MN9) and the one from Schernham (MN10). Overall, our M1 is morphologically similar to the holotype from Schernham (Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a), but differs from it by the presence of crests around the hypocone, which is an ancestral character found in the European Middle Miocene species P. germanicus and P. schaffneri (see Viret, Reference Viret1940; Engesser, Reference Engesser1972). Such intermediate features can be expected since Borský Svätý Jur is now the oldest occurrence of P. evolutus. The progressive oblique elongation of the hypoconal basin and the development of the buccal conules confirm the strong phylogenetic relationship between P. germanicus and P. evolutus, as reconstructed by Li (Reference Li2022, fig. 4).

Type species

Paenelimnoecus crouzeli Baudelot, Reference Baudelot1972.

Other referred species

Paenelimnoecus pannonicus (Kormos, Reference Kormos1934); P. micromorphus (Doben-Florin, Reference Doben-Florin1964); P. repenningi Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970; P. truyolsi Gibert, Reference Gibert1975; P. obtusus Storch, Reference Storch1995; P. chinensis Jin and Kawamura, Reference Jin and Kawamura1997.

Diagnosis

See Baudelot (Reference Baudelot1972, p. 100).

Occurrence

Paenelimoecus is recorded from the Early Miocene to Pliocene of Europe (Baudelot, Reference Baudelot1972; Reumer, Reference Reumer1984; Pipík and Sabol, Reference Pipík and Sabol2005; Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a; Van den Hoek Ostende et al., Reference Van den Hoek Ostende, Furió and Garcia-Paredes2009) and Middle Miocene to Pliocene of Asia (Engesser, Reference Engesser1980; Storch, Reference Storch1995; Jin and Kawamura, Reference Jin and Kawamura1997; Furió et al., Reference Furió, Van Dam and Kaya2014).

Holotype

Fragment of left mandible, NHMW 1970/1388, Kohfidisch, Austria (Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970).

Figure 3.

Scanning electron photomicrographs of Paenelimnoecus repenningi from (1–3) Studienka A and (4–6) Krásno, and (7–15) Paenesorex bicuspis from Borský Svätý Jur. (1) I1, ST214432, labial view; (2) M2, ST214433; (3) M2, ST214436; (4) m1, KR127304; (5) m1, KR127306; (6) m2, KR127305; (7) I1, BJ213704, labial view; (8) fragment of maxillary with P4–M1, BJ213719; (9) fragment of maxillary with P4–M1, BJ213720; (10) fragment of maxillary with M1–M2; (11) i1, BJ213766, labial view; (12) fragment of mandible with m1–m3, BJ213771; (13) m1, BJ213777; (14) m2, BJ213790; (15) fragment of mandible with m3, BJ213787. Images with underlined numbers are reversed.

Diagnosis

See Bachmayer and Wilson (Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970, p. 549), under the name Petenyiella? repenningi.

Occurrence

From MN9 to MN12 of Europe (Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970; Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2005, Reference Ziegler2006a; Furió, Reference Furió2007).

Description

A few dental specimens from Studienka A and Triblavina show a darker stain on their tips.

The I1 is a strongly procumbent element with only a slightly curved dorsal margin (Fig. 3.1). The talon is weak and bears a pointy labial cuspule. A marked crest is present on the lingual flank of the talon, continuing along the crown. The labial cingulum is strong.

The M1 has high labial crests and deep ectoloph, creating a clear W-shaped complex (Fig. 3.2). The mesostyle is intermediate in height between the low metastyle and the moderately high parastyle. The lingual complex is low. The broad protocone is connected to the anterolingual base of the paracone by a curved preprotocrista. The postprotocrista is straight and ends free lingual to the metacone. The posterolingual extension is narrow because of the deep posterior emargination. The hypocone is reduced and included in a crest joining the posterior cingulum. The M2 is barely distinguishable from the M1: the postmetacrista is more compressed and the posterolingual extensions are slightly less extended.

The i1 is slender and bicuspulate. The a1 is an ovoid, exaenodont and flat premolar with a cuspid in anterior position. An oblique crest is present posterior to this cuspid. The lingual, posterior, and labial margin are surrounded by a continuous cingulid.

The m1 has a laterally compressed trigonid with a bi-partitioned paralophid (Fig. 3.5). The paraconid is lower than the metaconid. The metalophid is high. The hypoconid is laterally compressed. The oblique cristid joins the trigonid wall below the protoconid. The entoconid is vestigial and independent. The hypolophid is straight. The postentoconid valley is narrow. Continuous anterior and labial cingula are present. The m2 has the same length as the m1 but has wider trigonid and talonid and a protoconid in a more labial position. The m3 is a small molar with reduced talonid. On the trigonid, the paralophid is curved and the metaconid is lower than the projected paraconid. The talonid displays a single cuspid, connected to the trigonid wall by a short crest. A short lingual swelling is attached to the cuspid, leading to a triangular shaped dental wear in occlusal view.

Material

Studienka A: four I1 (L = 1.23, LT = 0.66, H = 0.80; L = 1.21, LT = 0.65, H = 0.78; L = 1.10, LT = 0.51, H = 0.77; L = 1.20, LT = 0.61, H = 0.72), two M1 (BL = 0.89, TRW = 0.97; BL = 0.98), three M2 (BL = 1.03, PE = 0.77, LL = 0.99, TRW = 1.15, TAW = 1.16; BL = 0.87, PE = 0.79, TRW = 1.11; BL = 1.00), one i1 (H = 0.50), two m1 (TRW = 0.57; TRW = 0.55, TAW = 0.60), one m3 (L = 0.84, W = 0.52).

Triblavina: two I1 (L = 1.41, LT = 0.65, H = 0.92), two i1 (L = 2.66; L = 2.18), one m2 (TRW = 0.59).

Krásno: two I1 (H = 1.01; H = 0.83), one fragment of M1, one M2 (BL = 1.00, PE = 0.82), two i1 (H = 0.64), one a1 (L = 0.92, W = 0.67), five m1 (L = 1.06, TRW = 0.56, TAW = 0.59; L = 1.10, TRW = 0.58, TAW = 0.59; L = 1.09, TRW = 0.59, TAW = 0.63), two m2 (L = 1.10, TRW = 0.63, TAW = 0.65; TAW = 0.83).

Remarks

The combination of moderately elongated paralophid, lack of entocristid, and vestigial entoconid on lower molars is a clear indication of Paenelimnoecus. Few features, namely, the position of the mental foramen and the progressive reduction of the entoconid, distinguish the European Miocene species P. crouzeli (MN6–MN9), P. repenningi (MN9–MN12), and P. pannonicus (MN13–MN17). In our samples, there is no entocristid but a still visible entoconid, which fits the evolutionary degree of P. repenningi. This species was originally distinguished from P. pannonicus by its larger size (Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970), but most samples of P. repenningi have smaller dimensions than those found at the type locality of Kohfidisch (see Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a). This is also apparent in our material.

The mean measurements of Paenelimnoecus species (Table 1) highlight a trend toward the narrowing/elongation of m1. The Lm1/Wm1 ratio, which is between 1.56 and 1.71 for the Early and Middle Miocene species (P. micromorphus, P. truyolsi, and P. crouzeli) and between 1.65 and 2.05 for the Late Miocene species (P. repenningi, P. pannonicus, P. obtusus, P. chinensis), appears to be a good proxy to test the validity of several specific attributions.

Table 1.

Mean measurements (in mm) of the lower molars of Paenelimnoecus, Viretia, and Allosorex species. Data from to Fejfar (Reference Fejfar1966), Engesser (Reference Engesser1980), Crochet and Green (Reference Crochet and Green1982), Reumer (Reference Reumer1984), Storch (Reference Storch1995), Mészáros (Reference Mészáros1996, Reference Mészáros1998b, Reference Mészáros1999), Jin and Kawamura (Reference Jin and Kawamura1997), Ziegler (Reference Ziegler2005, Reference Ziegler2006a), Furió (Reference Furió2007), Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu (Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu2009), Minwer-Barakat et al. (Reference Minwer-Barakat, García-Alix, Martin-Suárez and Freudenthal2010), Hugueney et al. (Reference Hugueney, Mein and Maridet2012), Prieto and Van Dam (Reference Prieto and Van Dam2012), Furió et al. (Reference Furió, Van Dam and Kaya2014), Fejfar et al. (Reference Fejfar, von Koenigswald and Sabol2020).

The Lm1/Wm1 ratio of the single m1 of P. repenningi from MN11 of Čobruci, Moldova, equals 1.42 (based on Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu2009). This is lower than all material attributed to the genus. The figured specimen (Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu2009, fig. 9, F2) also displays a strong entoconid, leaving doubts about the taxonomic identification. Apart from this material, the lowest ratio in the Late Miocene of Europe (1.70) is found in P. aff. P. repenningi from MN9 of Rudabánya, described by Ziegler (Reference Ziegler2005). The use of open nomenclature was motivated by the intermediate morphology of the sample, between P. crouzeli and P. repenningi. The Lm1/Wm1 ratio is found within a very narrow overlapping area of the two species, supporting that the species from Rudabánya is a transitional form.

The Lm1/Wm1 ratio of Paenelimnoecus sp. 1 from Eskihisar (MN7/8, Anatolia; Engesser, Reference Engesser1980) equals 1.64, which fits the data obtained from P. crouzeli. Paenelimnoecus sp. 2 from Eskihisar has a slightly lower ratio (1.57), but its large size distinguishes it from other known Early and Middle Miocene species. Paenelimnoecus sp., described from MN10–11 of Hayranlı (Furió et al., Reference Furió, Van Dam and Kaya2014), has a Lm1/Wm1 ratio (1.65), which is significantly smaller than other Late Miocene species. This suggests that Paenelimnoecus sp. 1 from Eskihisar and Paenelimnoecus sp. from Hayranlı are closely related.

The subfamilial allocation of Paenelimnoecus is unstable (see Baudelot, Reference Baudelot1972; Reumer, Reference Reumer1984, Reference Reumer1992; Storch, Reference Storch1995; Fefjar et al., Reference Fejfar, Storch and Tobien2006, Reference Fejfar, von Koenigswald and Sabol2020; Engesser, Reference Engesser2009; Van den Hoek Ostende et al., Reference Van den Hoek Ostende, Furió and Garcia-Paredes2009; Hugueney et al., Reference Hugueney, Mein and Maridet2012). Its exclusion from Allosoricinae by Fejfar et al. (Reference Fejfar, Storch and Tobien2006), Hugueney et al. (Reference Hugueney, Mein and Maridet2012), and Prieto and Van Dam (Reference Prieto and Van Dam2012) was motivated by the lack of carnassial development on lower molars, which is a diagnostic feature of Allosorex stenodus Fejfar, Reference Fejfar1966, that already had been recorded in the Middle Miocene species Viretia (“Allosorex”) gracilidens (Viret and Zapfe, Reference Viret and Zapfe1952). However, except for the carnassial, there are few shared features between Viretia and Allosorex. Both taxa are also separated by a large stratigraphic gap, from MN7/8 to MN15 (ca. 8 my). Allosorex cf. A. stenodus has been identified in the MN9 of Alsótelekes (Hungary; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1999), but the three identified specimens actually show strong morphometrical and morphological similarities with early Crusafontina. On the other hand, Table 1 shows that the Late Miocene species of Paenelimnoecus acquired narrower m1, which is a feature concomitant with the development of carnassial molar.

Fundamentally, the instability of the subfamily Allosoricinae is caused by the highly specialized Allosorex stenodus. The rare adaptation to a specialized diet in a lineage should not justify the exclusion of older taxa that constitute convenient structural ancestors. The subfamily Paenelimnoecinae Fejfar, Storch, and Tobien, Reference Fejfar, Storch and Tobien2006, appears unsupported because it is defined by the non-presence of such dietary specialization. Despite the small size and lack of trigonid elongation, the presence of narrower lower molars, with the reduction of the entoconid and the acquisition of a soricine-like p4, supports a strong relationship between Paenelimnoecus and Allosorex, anchoring the genus into the Allosoricinae.

Type species

Paenesorex bicuspis Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2003, by monotypy.

Occurrence

MN7/8 of Germany (Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2003; Prieto, Reference Prieto2007) and Hungary (Hír et al., Reference Hír, Venczel, Codrea, Angelone, van den Hoek Ostende, Kirscher and Prieto2016) and MN9 of Slovakia (this paper).

Holotype

Left mandible with i1–m3, NHMA P6-01051 A1, Petersbuch 6, Germany (Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2003).

Description

The dental pigmentation is moderate, reaching the base of most cusps and cuspids.

Several fragments of maxillary are preserved. One of them shows three complete alveoli anterior to the P4 (Fig. 3.8). The posteriormost alveolus is circular and is interpreted as belonging to the A4. The anteriormost complete alveolus is elongated and interpreted as belonging to the A2. Anterior to it, a partly preserved larger alveolus is present, which is interpreted as belonging to the A1. The infraorbital foramen is enlarged. It starts slightly anterior to the posterolabial root of the P4 and ends above the mesostyle of the M1. A small lacrimal aperture is found directly above the posterior root of the M1.

The I1 is compact, with a strongly curved anterodorsal margin. The talon is thick and bears a pointy cuspule. The lingual cingulum creates an angular posterodorsal corner in labial view. The A2 is a relatively short, quadrangular element bearing a laterally compressed cusp in anterior position. A central crest is present, reaching the oblique postcrista. The antemolar is exaenodont. The lingual cingulum is also stronger. The P4 is a gracile element with a high paracone and a short, sharp postparacrista. The low parastyle is pointy and connected to the base of the paracone. A low, straight ridge connects the parastyle to the small protocone. The hypocone is included in a curved crest weakly connected to the protocone. The posthypocrista continues until the posteriormost part of the lingual region and joins the posterior cingulum. The posterior emargination is deep.

The M1 shows the classic soricine morphology. On the W-shaped labial crest complex, the parastyle creates a small hook on unworn specimens. The preprotocrista is slightly curved. Rarely, a thin and low crest connects the postprotocrista to the base of the metacone (metaloph). The hypocone is low and included in a ridge running along the posterior flank. The M2 differs from the M1 only by the slightly smaller dimensions and the more reduced posterolingual area (Fig. 3.10). The M3 is a moderately compressed, subtriangular molar with an elongated preparacrista and a short, slightly curved postparacrista. The metacone is included in the premetacrista. The mesostyle area is not divided. The protocone is very low. A thin posthypocrista is present, closing the broad basin without joining the metacone.

The i1 is bicuspulate, has a weak posterolabial cingulid and a narrow root (Fig. 3.11).

The m1 has a narrow trigonid with a relatively high paraconid bearing a short anterior swelling. The paralophid shows a deep carnassial notch. The metaconid is higher than the paraconid. The hypoconid is connected to the trigonid wall by a bi-partitioned oblique cristid. This crest is superficially divided by a moderate carnassial notch (Fig. 3.12). The hypolophid is straight. The entoconid is strong and the entocristid moderately high. The postentoconid valley is broad. The molar is surrounded by a narrow cingulid. The m2 differs from the m1 by the broader trigonid and slightly weaker notch on the paralophid and oblique cristid. The m3 has a trigonid with a high paraconid showing a short anterior swelling. The paralophid is bi-partitioned. The metaconid is as high as the paraconid. The talonid is characterized by a continuous U-shaped cristid. On unworn specimens, the hypoconid is barely distinguishable. Broad labial and anterior cingula are present.

Material

See Table 2 for measurements. Borský Svätý Jur (P. bicuspis): eight I1, one A2, two fragments of maxillary with P4–M1, three P4, one fragment of maxillary with M1, one fragment of maxillary with M1–M2, ten M1, 22 M2, six i1, one fragment of mandible with m1–m3, one fragment of mandible with m1–m2, two fragments of mandibles with m1, eight m1, two fragments of mandibles with m2–m3, six m2, one mandible with m3, two m3.

Table 2.

Measurements (in mm) of Paenesorex bicuspis from Borský Svätý Jur (MN9) and Studienka A (MN9), Slovakia. AW = anterior width; BL = labial length; H = height; L = length; LL = lingual length; LT = length of the talon; N = number of specimens; PE = length of the posterior emargination; PW = posterior width; TAW = talonid width; TRW = trigonid width; W = width.

Studienka A (P. bicuspis): one M1, two M2, one M3, two i1, three m1, one fragment of mandible with m2–m3, one fragment of mandible with m2, five m2, one m3.

Studienka D (P. cf. P. bicuspis): one M2 (BL = 1.22, PE = 0.97, LL = 1.16, AW = 1.55, PW = 1.47).

Remarks

The species from Borský Svätý Jur and Studienka (A and D) is an unspecialized Soricini showing most of the features of Paenesorex bicuspis. Namely, the lacrimal foramen above the posterior root of the M1, the four single-rooted teeth between the upper incisor and the P4, the moderate to strong posterior emargination on P4-M1, the bicuspulate i1, the m1 and m2 with low entocristid and broad postentoconid area and the m3 with a reduced talonid displaying a low hypoconid.

The few differences that have been found with the type material described by Ziegler (Reference Ziegler2003) are (1) the slightly smaller size, (2) the slightly deeper posterior emargination of the P4, (3) the presence of a small carnassial notch in the oblique cristid of the most unworn m1, and (4) the somewhat lower hypoconid on m3. It is unclear whether these differences are actually found in the variability of the material from Petersbuch 6 or if they indicate a slight temporal shift in the morphological and morphometrical variability of the species.

Type species

Isterlestes aenigmaticus n. sp., by monotypy.

Diagnosis

as for type species by monotypy.

Etymology

From ister (Ἴστρος), the ancient Greek name of the Danube; and lestes (λῃστής), thief, bandit, a commonly used suffix for insectivore genera.

Remarks

The combination of pigmented teeth, fissident I1, unspecialized P4, P4–M2 with moderate to strong posterior emargination, tricuspulate i1, and lower molars with broad talonid and developed entocristid undoubtedly anchors Isterlestes n. gen. within the Soricini. See remarks for Isterlestes aenigmaticus n. gen. n. sp. for additional discussion.

Holotype

SG198641; Šalgovce 5, Slovakia; right fragment of maxillary with A4 (L = 0.23, W = 0.33), P4 (BL = 1.08, PE = 0.70, LL = 0.78, W = 1.13), M1 (BL = 1.15, PE = 0.86, LL = 1.11, AW = 1.20, PW = 1.26), and M2 (BL = 1.07, PE = 0.86, LL = 1.03, AW = 1.25, PW = 1.20) (Figs. 4.3, 5.3).

Figure 4.

Scanning electron photomicrographs of Isterlestes aenigmaticus n. gen. n. sp. from Šalgovce 5. (1) (paratype) I1, SG198634, labial view; (2) (paratype) I1, SG198635, labial view; (3) (holotype) fragment of skull with A4, P4–M2, SG198641; (4) (paratype) P4, SG198638; (5) (paratype) M1, SG198639; (6) (paratype) M1, SG198640; (7) (paratype) i1, SG198616, labial view; (8) (paratype) i1, SG198617, labial view; (9) (paratype) m1, SG198623; (10) (paratype) m1, SG198624; (11) (paratype) m1, SG198626; (12) (paratype) m1, SG198618; (13) (paratype) fragment of mandible with m2, SG198630; (14) (paratype) m2, SG198631; (15) (paratype) m2, SG198632; (16) (paratype) m2, SG198633. Images with underlined numbers are reversed.

Figure 5.

Comparative drawing of the cranial structures of several Soricini genera (unscaled), in labial view. Black lines indicate the position of the A4. (1) Paenesorex bicuspis, Borský Svätý Jur (MN9), Slovakia, BJ213719; (2) Zelceina soriculoides (Sulimski, Reference Sulimski1959), Węże 1 (MN14), Poland, MF/1859/4; (3) Isterlestes aenigmaticus n. gen. n. sp., Šalgovce 5 (MN12), Slovakia, SG198641 (holotype); (4) Sorex minutus, Charente (Recent), France, RC000001. Images with underlined numbers are reversed.

Paratypes

SG198615–SG198640 (26 specimens): four I1, one P4, two M1, eight i1, five m1, one fragment of mandible with m2, two m2, three m3. The extractable dental measurements are provided in Table 3.

Table 3.

Measurements (in mm) of Isterlestes aenigmaticus n. gen. n. sp. from Šalgovce 5 (MN12), Slovakia. AW = anterior width; BL = labial length; H = height; L = length; LL = lingual length; LT = length of the talon; N = number of specimens; PE = length of the posterior emargination; PW = posterior width; TAW = talonid width; TRW = trigonid width; W = width.

Diagnosis

Differing from other soricinine species by the following combination of characters: small size (Lm1 ≃ 1.20); large infraorbital foramen above M1; small lacrimal aperture above the anterior root of the M2; weak to moderate dental pigmentation; fissident I1; extremely reduced A5; compressed A4; P4 with low parastyle, low protocone, and rounded lingual margin; M1 and M2 with a crest connecting the postparacrista to the base of the metacone and a low hypocone; P4–M2 with a moderate to strong posterior emargination; tricuspulate i1; m1–m2 with distinct entocristid and entoconid; reduced m2 (Lm1/Lm2 ≃ 1.25).

Differential diagnosis

Differs from all Neogene Soricini by the posterior displacement of the infraorbital foramen and the lacrimal aperture (Fig. 5.3), and by reduction of the A5 and the m2. Additionally, differs from Deinsdorfia by the fissident I1, shorter P4, unreduced M2, and significantly lower structures on upper molars; from Dimylosorex by the unspecialized dentition (unreduced number of antemolar, simple P4, presence of m3). Differs from Paenesorex by the reduced A4, the more compact P4, the broader M1–2, the lower dental structure on upper and lower molars, and the tricuspulate i1. Differs from most Sorex by the fissident I1. Differs from all Sorex by the reduction of the A4 and the lower cusps on P4. Differs from Zelceina by the fissident I1, stronger posterior emargination on P4–M2, and (except Z. kormosi Storch, Reference Storch1995) the tricuspulate i1.

Occurrence

Šalgovce 5, Topoľčany district, Nitra Region (Slovakia), Danube basin. Correlated to middle Turolian, MN12.

Description

The dental elements show a weak to moderate dental pigmentation.

The infraorbital foramen is large (0.90 mm; 78% of M1 labial length). It starts above the P4/M1 and ends above the posterolabial root of the M1. Viewed from above, the infraorbital foramen is broad, as the maxillary is strongly curved. Namely, the rostral height appears short. The small lacrimal aperture is found above the anterior root of the M2. The anteriormost part of the orbit is found above the middle part of the M2 (directly above the mesostyle). This leads to a short breadth of the bony bridge (0.77 mm; 67% of M1 labial length). In occlusal view, a very small and rounded alveolus is found between the A4 and the P4 (Fig. 4.3). This alveolus is situated slightly lingually, so that the parastyle of the P4 and the posterolabial lobe of the A4 occupy all the labial margin of the maxillary (Fig. 5.3). Anterior to the compressed A4, a more elongated alveolus is found, with an elevated anteriormost part. Above this alveolus (A3) is found a tiny supra infraorbital foramen.

The I1 is slightly fissident and has a strongly curved dorsal margin. The posterior talon has a slightly projected labial cuspule and a posterolingual thickening. In labial view, the cingulum extends all along the posterior margin and reaches the center of the dorsal margin.

The A4 is a small, anteroposteriorly compressed antemolar with a minute cusp in anterior position and two symmetrical lobes. A thin and central ridge connects the cusp to the posterior margin. A continuous cingulum, weaker on the anterior flank, surrounds the tooth. The P4 bears a high paracone and short postparacrista. All other structures are extremely low (Fig. 4.3). The parastyle is connected to the base of the paracone by a thin ridge and is slightly eccentric in occlusal view. The parastyle is connected by a straight ridge to a barely distinct protocone. A curved prehypocrista is present. The low hypocone is in a more posterior position than the paracone. The posthypocrista joins the posterior cingulum. The posterior emargination is moderately deep (PE index = 0.33).

The M1 has a high labial complex with relatively short preparacrista and premetacrista. The parastyle creates a small hook at the anterolabial corner. The protocone is low and elongated. The preprotocrista is curved. A thin postprotocrista descends from the protocone and ends freely in the middle of the lingual area. A thin crest connects the middle section of the postprotocrista to the base of the metacone. The hypocone is low and connected to the posterior cingulum by a marked posthypocrista. The posterior emargination is moderate (PE index = 0.31). The M2 differs from the M1 by the longer preprotocrista, the shorter postmetacrista, the stronger connection between the postprotocrista and the base of the metacone, the slightly reduced posterolingual extension, and the shallower posterior emargination (PE index = 0.22).

Only a fragment of a mandible is known. It displays a very thin ramus, a fragment of m2, and the two alveoli of the m3 (Fig. 4.13). The posterior alveolus is more elongated than the anterior one. The maximal length of the m3 alveoli is 0.87 mm.

The i1 is always tricuspulate. The posteriormost cuspule is weakly (Fig. 4.7) to strongly (Fig. 4.8) developed. The apex is slightly bent upward. A continuous and narrow inner cingulid is present.

The m1 has a triangular trigonid and broad talonid. The paraconid is pointy and slightly bent. The paralophid consists of two straight crests superficially divided by a moderate carnassial notch. The metalophid is bi-partitioned and the metaconid is higher than the paraconid. The entoconid is high and laterally compressed. The entocristid is low. The hypoconid is slightly lower than the entoconid and is connected to the trigonid wall by a bi-partitioned oblique cristid. The hypolophid is low and the postentoconid valley is distinct. Narrow anterolabial, posterior and lingual cingulids are present. The anterior cingulid is broader but lacking below the paraconid. The m2 is a small version of the m1, with a narrow, triangular trigonid and broad talonid. The metaconid is only slightly higher than the paraconid. The oblique cristid is low and bi-partitioned. The hypolophid reaches the lingual margin, leading to a narrow postentoconid valley. The anterior cingulid is broad. The lingual and posterior cingulid are continuous but very narrow.

Etymology

From the Latin aenigmaticus, a, um: enigmatic, puzzling. In reference to its obscure relationship with other Soricini, and especially with early Sorex-like species.

Remarks

As stated by Ziegler (Reference Ziegler2003), Paenesorex does not constitute a convincing structural ancestor for Sorex. This is also true for Isterlestes n. gen. The combination of bicuspulate i1 indicates that Paenesorex displays a more ancestral morphological grade and has a sharper dentition that is better suited for the consumption of soft-bodied organisms. Paenesorex displays a broad and circular infraorbital foramen in labial view (Fig. 5.1). This is a consequence of a rather straight maxillary face and a high rostral height, as indicated by a well-preserved skull from Petersbuch 6 (P6-01053A1; Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2003: fig. 5.3). Consequently, Paenesorex likely occupied a basal position within the Soricini.

Overall, a significant number of the diagnostic features of Isterlestes aenigmaticus n. gen. n. sp. indicates a slight shortening of the face, which is unusual for Soricini. This snout shortening is accompanied by lowering of the crests and cusps on the upper dentition. This supports a change in the dietary preferences of the species, in which the P4 and the molars became of higher importance for masticatory purposes. This slight dietary specialization is not equivalent to the extremely robust dentition of Zelceina, which displays massive antemolars, elongated P4, and A5 still visible in labial view (Fig. 5.2). Similarly, Deinsdorfia is also extremely specialized (Furió and Mein, Reference Furió and Mein2008). Its first probable occurrence, in the MN7/8 of Petersbuch 31 (Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2003), indicates a very early morphological diversification of the Soricini. Zelceina is identified slightly later, from MN11 onwards (Rzebik-Kowalska and Nesin, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Nesin2010; Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets2016). Notably, both Zelceina and Deinsdorfia possess the peculiar Blarina-type schmelzmuster structure (von Koenigswald and Reumer, Reference von Koenigswald and Reumer2020), which is not present in Sorex. We consider here Paenesorex as a true Soricini, Zelceina and Deinsdorfia likely acquired this structure independently from the Blarinini, which strongly indicates that these two genera belong to a subgroup of specialized Soricini that is different from Sorex and Isterlestes n. gen.

Most of our knowledge on the oldest European Sorex are based on karst deposits from the Ruscinian of central Europe (e.g., Sulimski, Reference Sulimski1962; Reumer, Reference Reumer1984). This is in line with molecular data (e.g., Bannikova et al., Reference Bannikova, Chernetskaya, Raspopova, Alexandrov, Fang, Dokuchaev, Sheftel and Lebedev2018), supporting that the early history of Sorex is missing in the fossil record. This extends to the Soricini and is likely a consequence of poor preservation and overall rare presence of this tribe in the Middle and Late Miocene of Eurasia. It also appears that delimitation of the genus Sorex is still blurry (Reumer, Reference Reumer1984). However, the posterior displacement of the infraorbital foramen and lacrimal aperture and the reduction of the A4, the A5 (Fig. 5.3), and the m2 in the species from Šalgovce 5 support a separate generic assignment. Such features imply that Isterlestes aenigmaticus n. gen. n. sp. does not constitute a good structural ancestor for any Neogene Eurasian species of Sorex (e.g., S. bor Reumer, Reference Reumer1984, S. ertemteensis Storch, Reference Storch1995, S. hibbardi Sulimski, Reference Sulimski1962, S. minutus Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1766, S. minutoides Von Zimmermann, Reference Von Zimmermann1780, S. polonicus Rzebik-Kowalski, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska1991, S. prealpinus Heller, Reference Heller1930, S. pseudoalpinus Rzebik-Kowalski, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska1991, S. runtonensis Hinton, Reference Hinton1911, S. subminutus Sulimski, Reference Sulimski1962) or for any recent species having deep roots within the phylogeny of Sorex (e.g., S. alpinus Schinz, Reference Schinz1837, S. cinereus Kerr, Reference Kerr1792). However, few permutations are necessary to pass from a Sorex-like dental structure to Isterlestes n. gen. Additionally, both Sorex and Isterlestes show an elongated infraorbital foramen (Fig. 5), although Isterlestes likely has a shorter rostral height.

Considering the lack of important dentognathic elements (p4, m3, mandibular condyles), it is unclear how close Isterlestes aenigmaticus n. gen. n. sp. and Sorex are, from a phylogenetic perspective. The dental and cranial structures described here suggest that Isterlestes diverged before the appearance of Sorex. However, this is partly contradicted by the estimated age of emergence of Sorex around the late Early Miocene (Bannikova et al., Reference Bannikova, Chernetskaya, Raspopova, Alexandrov, Fang, Dokuchaev, Sheftel and Lebedev2018), but the calibration (Bannikova et al., Reference Bannikova, Chernetskaya, Raspopova, Alexandrov, Fang, Dokuchaev, Sheftel and Lebedev2018, table S3) leading to this likely overestimated age is actually based on scant Late Miocene evidence from Asia and North America (Bown, Reference Bown1980; Storch and Qiu, Reference Storch and Qiu1991). Because Sorex was probably not yet present in Europe before MN13 (based on Doukas et al., Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Theocharopoulos, Reumer and Schmidt-Kittler1995), there is no taxonomic or biogeographic evidence supporting that Isterlestes n. gen. emerged from an early Sorex. This strengthens even more the role of central Europe in the evolution and morphological experimentation of the Soricini.

Type species

Crusafontina endemica Gibert, Reference Gibert1975.

Other referred species

Crusafontina kormosi (Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970); C. exculta (Mayr and Fahlbusch, Reference Mayr and Fahlbusch1975); C. magna Hutchison and Bown in Bown, Reference Bown1980); C. minima Hutchison and Bown in Bown, Reference Bown1980; C. fastigata Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004; C. vandeweerdi Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004.

Diagnosis

See Van Dam (Reference Van Dam2004, p. 743).

Occurrence

Crusafontina is a widespread genus identified in the late Middle Miocene and Late Miocene of Europe (Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998a; Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004; Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006b), Turolian of Asia (Zazhigin and Voyta, Reference Zazhigin and Voyta2022) and early Late Miocene of North America (Bown, Reference Bown1980; Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2010). Ziegler (Reference Ziegler2006a) included C. exculta in C. aff. C. endemica, which is not followed here because Van Dam (Reference Van Dam2010) clearly demonstrated the peculiarities of the species from Hammerschmiede.

Holotype

Fragment of left mandible with p4–m2, ICP nr. 9009, Can Llobateres, Spain (Gibert, Reference Gibert1975).

Figure 6.

Scanning electron photomicrographs of Crusafontina endemica from Borský Svätý Jur (1–10) and Studienka A (11). (1) I1, BJ213600, labial view; (2) A1, BJ213607; (3) A2, BJ213672; (4) fragment of maxillary with P4–M1, BJ213612; (5) M1, BJ213616; (6) M2, BJ213628; (7) M3, BJ213633; (8) i1, BJ213642, labial view; (9) a1, BJ213682; (10) fragment of mandible with m2, BJ213652, labial view; (11) fragment of mandible with m1–m3, ST214364. Images with underlined numbers are reversed.

Diagnosis

See Van Dam (Reference Van Dam2004, p. 744).

Occurrence

From MN9 and MN10 of Europe (Gibert, Reference Gibert1975; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998a, Reference Mészáros1999; Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004; Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a, Reference Zieglerb; Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu2009).

Description

The I1 is a massive incisor with an evenly rounded labial outline in lateral view. The apex tip is sharp, slightly procumbent and bent mesially. The talon is low and rounded in lateral view. A distinct notch is present between the talon and the apex tip (Fig. 6.1). The labial cingulum is present below the talon. The A1 has a laterally compressed main cusp, a thick anterior crest reaching the pointy anterior margin and a thinner posterior one joining the posterior cingulum. The antemolar is exaenodont and the lingual flank bears a minute cusp on the center of the thick cingulum (Fig. 6.2). The posterolingual part bears a shallow basin delimited by a robust cingulum. The A2 is distinct from the A1 by being less elongated and by having no minute cusp on the lingual cingulum. The posterolingual corner is elevated. The P4 has a conical paracone and a thick, slightly curved postparacrista. A thin preparacrista is present between the paracone and the parastyle. A thin crest extends from the parastyle and reaches the slightly lower protocone. The hypocone is lower and situated more posteriorly than the protocone. The hypoconal flange is stretched and surrounded by a cingulum. The posterior emargination is moderately deep.

The M1 has a strong metacone. The premetacrista is slightly higher than the postparacrista. The preparacrista is short and turns as a hook when joining the parastyle at the anterolingual corner. The postmetacrista is sharp, long and slightly curved. From the protocone extends a preprotocrista not connected to the paracone. The end of the postprotocrista is thickened. On the most posterolabial part of the postprotocrista are found: no crests (five, all from BJ; Fig. 6.4, 6.5), a short freely ending crest (one in BJ, two in ST A), or a crest joining the lingual base of the metacone (one in ST A). The hypocone is low and independent from the postprotocrista. It has an elongated hypoconal flange. There is a broad cingulum along the base of the postmetacrista. On M2, the metacone is still stronger than the paracone. The preparacrista is slightly longer than the postparacrista, premetacrista and postmetacrista. The postprotocrista is thicker posteriorly. The hypocone is low and less extended than in M1. The hypoconal flange is less stretched than in M1 (Fig. 6.5 vs. Fig. 6.6). The M3 is strongly reduced. The paracone is the highest cusp and leads to a curved preparacrista and a short postparacrista. The metacone is indistinct from the curved premetacrista, which is connected by a straight descending crest to a barely visible hypocone. A short preprotocrista is present.

The body of the mandible is regular in height. The upper part of the angular process ends at three quarters the height of the body. The mandibular foramen is located below the anterior root (in one case), between the two roots (in two cases; Fig. 6.11) or almost below the posterior root of the m1 (in one case).

The lower incisor is bicuspulate (Fig. 6.8). The tip of the cusp is bent upward and slightly mesially. There is a continuous and curved cingulum on the mesial side. On the labial side, the posterior cingulum is barely visible. The a1 is subtriangular, relatively flat and exaenodont. The main cusp is laterally compressed. It is connected to the anterior margin by a robust crest. A much thinner posterior crest connects the cusp to the straight posterior margin. A continuous cingulid is present, thicker at the posterolingual and posterolabial corner. The p4 is subtriangular and exaenodont. The main cuspid is slightly laterally compressed and relatively high. From this cuspid extends a thick and curved crest reaching the anterior margin. A thinner crest reaches the slightly oblique posterior border.

The trigonid of m1 is longer than the talonid. The paralophid is bi-partitioned. The metaconid is higher than the paraconid. The trigonid basin is largely open lingually. The trigonid displays two morphotypes: the morphotype A (sensu Furió, Reference Furió2007, fig. 6.13) has clearly separated protoconid and metaconid (three in BJ; two in ST A; Fig. 6.10), whereas the morphotype B displays an anteriorly elongated trigonid with close protoconid and metaconid (two in BJ; one in ST A). The hypoconid is larger and lower than the entoconid. The oblique cristid is almost parallel to the tooth anteroposterior axis, connecting just lingually to the base of the protoconid. The entocristid touches the base of the metaconid. The entostylid is strongly separated from the entoconid. The postentoconid valley is narrow. Short and narrow cingula are present anteriorly, labially and posteriorly. The m2 differs from the m1 by the smaller size, the narrower talonid and the lack of trigonid displaying the morphotype B. The trigonid of the m3 is only slightly reduced (Fig. 6.10). The paraconid and the metaconid have the same height. The anteriormost part of the paralophid is slightly curved. The talonid is moderately reduced, with a shallow basin completely closed by a continuous U-shape crest. In one of the two unworn specimens from BJ, a small entoconid and hypoconid are found at the posterolingual and posterolabial corners, respectively.

Material

See Table 4 for measurements. Borský Svätý Jur: five I1, five A1, four A2, one fragment of maxillary with P4-M1, two P4, nine M1, six M2, two M3, six i1, three a1, two p4, one fragment of mandible with m1, five m1, one fragment of mandible with m2, four m2, four m3.

Table 4.

Measurements (in mm) of Crusafontina endemica from Borský Svätý Jur (MN9) and Studienka A (MN9), Slovakia. AW = anterior width; BL = labial length; H = height; L = length; LL = lingual length; LT = length of the talon; N = number of specimens; PE = length of the posterior emargination; PW = posterior width; TAW = talonid width; TRW = trigonid width; W = width.

Studienka A: three I1, one P4, two M1, one M2, three i1, one fragment of mandible with m1–m3, three m1, two m2.

Remarks

The combination of moderate size, lack of parastyle on A1, wide M1 with posterior emargination, elongated trigonid on m1, entocristid on m1 and m2, straight oblique cristid, and a relatively small M2 and m3 with still a functional talon are clear indicators of Crusafontina. Several Late Miocene lineages of Crusafontina have been identified (Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2010), but central Europe, an apparent source area for Late Miocene Anourosoricini (Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004; this paper), was mostly occupied by the main C. endemica–C. kormosi lineage (e.g., Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a, Reference Zieglerb). Our MN9 material displays strong similarities with Crusafontina endemica, based on the relatively small size, the gracile A1, the bicuspulate i1, and the slightly reduced m3. The material from our oldest locality, Borský Svätý Jur, already displays all the diagnostic features differentiating C. endemica from C. exculta (see Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2010). The Lm3/Lm1 ratio equals 0.61 in Borský Svätý Jur and 0.50 in Studienka A, which are typical values for C. endemica (based on Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004; Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2005, Reference Ziegler2006a).

Several Vallesian Crusafontina from central European have been attributed to C. aff. C. endemica (see Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2005, Reference Ziegler2006a) because of a mental foramen in a more posterior position and overall, a deeper ectoflexus on M1. In addition, the m3 from Rudabánya displays a two-cusped talonid (Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2005), whereas the talonid in the type material of Can Llobateres is apparently more reduced.

In our four fragments, BJ213652 has a mental foramen at the same position as specimen CL1 2256 from Can Llobateres (Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004, fig. 3.3), whereas BJ213654 is very similar to NHMW-272 from Rudabánya (Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2005, pl. 4.1). Thus, the position of the mental foramen is affected by variation, including its presence below the anterior alveolus of the m1. The depth of the ectoflexus on M1 differs between species, but also shows a gradual evolution within lineages. It is not surprising that the MN10 and the comparatively fewer late MN9 materials from Austria are more advanced than the peripheral occurrences from MN9 of Spain. Such gradual evolution is also apparent in the Austrian, Hungarian, and Slovak material. Similarly, the development of m3 is subject to gradual intraspecific change. The type material of C. endemica, from Can Llobateres, still preserves the entoconid and the hypoconid (Gibert, Reference Gibert1975). However, in his description of C. endemica from MN9 in Spain, Van Dam (Reference Van Dam2004) figured a m3 with distinct cuspids (fig. 2.21) from this locality, alongside another m3 with only a continuous talonid cristid from Puente Minero 2 (Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004, fig. 2.13). The material from Borský Svätý Jur has one specimen out of two showing distinguishable talonid cuspids. Ziegler (Reference Ziegler2006a) considered that the poorly reduced m3 in the material from Rudabánya discard was an attribution to C. endemica, but this is based on only two specimens. Likely, the distinction of these cuspids is correlated to a high Lm3/Lm1 ratio, explaining the higher frequency of these features in apparently older material.

The validity of Crusafontina aff. C. endemica in central Europe is based on morphological particularities that are all explainable by morphological variability and slight gradual changes. Here, we reclassify the material from Rudabánya, Götzendorf, Richardhof–Golfplatz, Richardhof–Wald, and Schernham as Crusafontina endemica. The limited sample from Neusiedl am see is reclassified as Crusafontina cf. C. endemica.

Crusafontina kormosi (Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970)
Figure 7

Figure 7.

Scanning electron photomicrographs of Crusafontina kormosi from Triblavina (1–9) and Šalgovce 5 (10–19). (1) A1, TB170247; (2) A2, TB170256; (3) i1, TB170252, labial view; (4) a1, TB170255; (5) p4, TB170205; (6) m1, TB170223; (7) m2, TB170224; (8) m3, TB170228; (9) m3, TB170229; (10) I1, SG198253, labial view; (11) fragment of skull with I1–A2 and P4–M2, SG198262; (12) fragment of maxillary with M1, SG198291; (13) M2, SG198298; (14) M3, SG198308; (15) p4, SG198310; (16) m1, SG198350; (17) m2, SG198361; (18) m3, SG198390; (19) m3, SG198393. Images with underlined numbers are reversed.

Holotype

Fragment of right mandible with m1–3, NHMW 1970/1389, Kohfidisch, Austria (Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970).

Diagnosis

See Van Dam (Reference Van Dam2004, p. 750).

Occurrence

MN10 and MN11 of Europe (Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004; Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a, Reference Zieglerb; Ménouret and Mein, Reference Ménouret and Mein2008). Crusafontina kormosi is also recorded in MN12 and earliest MN13 of Hungary (Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998a, Reference Mészárosb, Reference Mészáros1999) and suspected in MN13 of Moldova (Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu2009).

Description

An almost complete maxillary is preserved, with all elements except A3 and M3 (Fig. 7.11). Between the A2 and the P4, a small, circular alveolus is found. The available space implies a relatively ovoid A3. A tiny foramen is present above the root of the A2. The entrance of the infraorbital fossa is situated above the posterolabial root of the P4.

The I1 is a massive tooth with a sharp and projected tip (Fig. 7.10). The labial cingulum is thicker in its median part. The A1 is a strongly elongated tooth with a laterally compressed cusp and robust centrocrista (Fig. 7.1, 7.11). The posterolingual area displays a talon with a minute cusp and a second, less distinct bulge in a more central position. A posterior emargination is present, separating the lingual complex from the simple labial flank. Cingulums are present posterolabially and anterolingually. The A2 is an inflated subtriangular tooth with a conical main cusp in anterior position and a short anterior crest. The tooth is surrounded by a cingulum. A thickening of the cingulum is visible at the posterolingual corner. The P4 bears a small conical paracone and an enlarged, sharp, and curved postparacrista. The parastyle is connected by a thin crest to the base of the paracone. The protocone is low and triangular in cross-section. From the protocone extends a short lingual crest that ends freely close to the anterolingual border. A broad valley separates the protocone from the large, independent hypocone. A short hypoloph is attached to it. A ridge running parallel to the lingual margin is found lingually to the hypoloph.

The M1 bears a high metacone from which a regularly curved postmetacrista extends. The postparacrista is slightly longer than the premetacrista and the preparacrista. The preparacrista is connected to a hook-like parastyle. The protocone is low. The preprotocrista ends before reaching the base of the paracone. The postprotocrista is thicker posteriorly and delineates a broad, mortar-like trigon basin. A thin hypoloph is often distinguishable (two in KR, two in SG 5; Fig. 7.12). Alternatively, a short ridge with a thicker bulge, which is independent from the hypocone, is present (one in SG 5; Fig. 7.11). The M2 is reduced and shows a strong posterior compression, leading to a more trapezoid outline. The preparacrista is the longest labial crest. The parastyle is short, bladelike, and stands at an angle with the preparacrista. The hypocone is weak. In some cases, the hypocone only corresponds to a low bulge born by the lingual flange. The M3 is a vestigial, subtriangular element. Only a few structures are distinguishable: a labial S-shape crest including the protocone, a short preparacrista and postparacrista, a small posterolabial bulge (metacone?), a minute anterolingual protocone, and a flat posterolingual basin. These structures are only partly present in the single specimen from SG 5 (Fig. 7.14).

The height of the mandibular body is regular. The mandibular foramen is located below the anterior root of the m1. The two alveoli of m3 are well differentiated.

The i1 has a tip bent upward and slightly mesially (Fig. 7.3). This incisor is weakly bicuspulate; the posteriormost accessory cuspule is lower than the tip of the incisor. On the lingual side, the cingulum is distinguishable to absent. The a1 is a one-rooted, subtriangular tooth with a slightly laterally compressed cuspid in central position. The anterior cristid reaches the anterior margin. A thin bi-partitioned posterior cristid joins the broad posterior cingulid (Fig. 7.4). The posterolabial corner is more extended than the posterolingual one. The tooth is surrounded by a cingulid except for below the anterior cristid. The one-rooted p4 is robust and displays an uncompressed, high, and conical cuspid in slightly anterior position. The anterior crest is blunt. The posterolingual corner of the talon is extended.

The trigonid of m1 is significantly longer than the talonid. The bi-partitioned paralophid has a slight carnassial notch. The protoconid is bulbous. The metaconid is slightly higher than the paraconid. Both cuspids are close to each other, as they are in morphotype B (sensu Furió, Reference Furió2007, fig. 5.13). The talonid is rectangular in shape. The weak entocristid and the oblique cristid are almost parallel. The entoconid is high and conical whereas the hypoconid is low and subtriangular. The entostylid is robust. Only a narrow cingulid is present, situated anterolabially. The m2 is overall a smaller version of the m1. The paralophid is slightly more oblique, the paraconid and metaconid are more separated, the anterior cingulid is stronger, and the entostylid is reduced. A small cuspule is found in the center of the talonid basin in one out of 12 specimens. The m3 is extremely small (Fig. 7.8, 7.9, 7.18, 7.19). The simple trigonid configuration is still preserved, despite the metaconid being smaller than the paraconid. The talonid displays a tiny basin surrounded by a continuous crest. The entoconid and the hypoconid are not distinct from the hypolophid.

Material

See Table 5 for measurements. Triblavina: five I1, two A1, three A2, two P4, three M1, one M2, three i1, one a1, one p4, four m1, six m2, three m3, one fragment of mandible.

Table 5.

Measurements (in mm) of Crusafontina kormosi from Triblavina (MN11), Krásno (MN11) and Šalgovce 5 (MN12), Slovakia. AW = anterior width; BL = labial length; H = height; L = length; LL = lingual length; LT = length of the talon; N = number of specimens; PE = length of the posterior emargination; PW = posterior width; TAW = talonid width; TRW = trigonid width; W = width.

Krásno: six I1, four A1, one A2, 12 M1, five M2, 32 i1, one a1, one p4, eight m1, ten m2, two m3, one fragment of edentulous mandible.

Šalgovce 5: one fragment of maxillary with I1-A2 and P4-M2, eight I1, two A1, three A2, one fragment of maxillary with P4, three P4, one fragment of maxillary with M1, two M1, 10 M2, one M3, 14 i1, two a1, seven p4, nine m1, 17 m2, five m3, one fragment of edentulous mandible.

Remarks

The specimens from Triblavina, Krásno, and Šalgovce 5 show clear similarities with Crusafontina kormosi from Kohfidisch. They display more advanced features than C. endemica: stronger centrocrista on A1, strengthening of the anterior cusps on P4, enlargement of M1, clear reduction of M2 and M3, broadening of the p4, and reduction of the Lm3/Lm1 ratio. Van Dam (Reference Van Dam2004) considered 0.40 as the Lm3/Lm1 ratio delimiting C. endemica from C. kormosi, which fits with the material from Triblavina (0.40) and Krásno (0.39).

Type species

Amblycoptus oligodon Kormos, Reference Kormos1926.

Other referred species

Amblycoptus topali Jánossy, Reference Jánossy1972; A. jessiae Doukas et al., Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Theocharopoulos, Reumer and Schmidt-Kittler1995.

Occurrence

Amblycoptus is identified from latest MN11 to MN16 of Europe (Jánossy, Reference Jánossy1972; Rzebik-Kowalska, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska1975; Doukas et al., Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Theocharopoulos, Reumer and Schmidt-Kittler1995; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1996, Reference Mészáros1997, Reference Mészáros1998b; Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004; Doukas, Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Doukas and Reumer2005; Furió, Reference Furió2007; Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu2009; Vasileiadou and Doukas, Reference Vasileiadou, Doukas and Vlachos2022).

Holotype

Fragment of right mandible with a1, p4–m2, AMPG MA 3296, Maramena, Greece (Doukas et al., Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Theocharopoulos, Reumer and Schmidt-Kittler1995).

Figure 8.

Scanning electron photomicrographs of Amblycoptus jessiae from Šalgovce 5. (1) I1, SG198150, labial view; (2) A1, SG198180; (3) A1, SG198183; (4) A2, SG198191; (5) A2, SG198192; (6) P4, SG198157; (7) M1, SG198158; (8) edentulous mandible, SG198247, labial view; (9) i1, SG198201, labial view; (10) m1, SG198220; (11) m1, SG198226; (12) m2, SG198232; (13) m2, SG198233. Images with underlined numbers are reversed.

Diagnosis

See Doukas et al. (Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Theocharopoulos, Reumer and Schmidt-Kittler1995, p. 54).

Occurrence

MN13 of Greece (Doukas et al., Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Theocharopoulos, Reumer and Schmidt-Kittler1995; Vasileiadou and Doukas, Reference Vasileiadou, Doukas and Vlachos2022), Spain (Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004; Furió, Reference Furió2007), and Slovakia (this paper).

Description

The massive I1 has a heavy, bent apex (Fig. 8.1). It is separated from the talon by a very slight notch. The talon is rounded in lateral view. The labial cingulum is especially thick below the notch. The A1 is an elongated, triangular tooth with a robust protocone in central position. The labial length of the tooth is slightly longer than the lingual one. A short anterior crest is attached to the independent parastyle. The paracone is found on the lingual side and is connected to the broad anterolingual cingulum. A weak (Fig. 8.2) to moderately strong (Fig. 8.3) hypocone is present posterior to the protocone. The A2 is a subtriangular and flat tooth that varies greatly in size (Fig. 8.4, 8.5). The main cusp is low and surrounded by a continuous and wide cingulum. A thin, central, posterior crest is often present (four out of six). A bulge is present lingually, in a relatively posterior position. The paracone of the P4 is massive. The parastyle is in a relatively anterior position and is much smaller than the protocone. A thin crest connects the parastyle to the base of the paracone. From the low protocone extends a preprotocrista and a short posterior crest. The hypocone is robust and independent. A short and blunt hypoloph is present, leading labially to the parastyle. The posterolingual flange is angular, with a discontinuous cingulum (Fig. 8.6). The posterior emargination is shallow.

The M1 has a massive labial complex with a low but robust preparacrista, postparacrista, and premetacrista. The parastyle is only slightly smaller than the protocone but stronger than all other cusps. The preparacrista and parastyle crest re-enter posterolingually as a hook. The mesostyle is situated lingually. The labial emargination is deep and reaches its maximum extent posteriorly to the mesostyle. The postmetacrista is straight. The paracone and metacone are similar. The preprotocrista and the postparacrista are sharp. The lingual margin is slightly concave. The hypocone is low and independent. There is no hypoloph, but there is a short anterolingually oriented prehypocrista.

The mandible is a massive element with seven alveoli, corresponding to the i1, one-rooted a1, one-rooted p4, two-rooted m1, and two-rooted m2. The alveolus of the p4 is enlarged in labial view. The posteriormost end of the alveolus of i1 is situated directly below the alveolus of the p4. The mandibular foramen is located slightly anterior to the posterior alveolus of the m1 (Fig. 8.8).

The i1 is acuspulate (Fig. 8.9). The apex is slightly bent upward. There is no visible cingulid. The a1 is a triangular element with a high and bulbous cuspid. The anterior cristid is extremely blunt. A short swelling is present at the posterolingual corner. The posterior crest is thin and almost straight. The p4 is only known from fragments. It displays a strong asymmetry as the labial side is much longer than the lingual one. The main cusp is very high, conical, and in anterior position. There is no distinct anterior crest. A thin posterior crest is present, joining lingually the oblique posterior cingulid.

The m1 is massive, with a trigonid longer than the talonid. The robust protoconid is connected to the paraconid by a long angular paralophid. The talonid bears a high, laterally compressed entoconid with a short entocristid. It is interrupted before the trigonid wall by a notch. The hypoconid is lower than the entoconid and has a broader base. The hypolophid is straight and leads to a small entostylid. In three specimens, the entostylid is found near the posterior margin, leading to a distinct postentoconid valley. In three other specimens, the entostylid is more anteriorly situated, leading to a very superficial valley. The oblique cristid is bent. In one specimen out of five, a short cristid is attached to the anterolingual section of the oblique cristid. In two other specimens, this short cristid leads to a relatively strong accessory cuspule at the anterolabial part of the talonid basin (Fig. 8.10). The labial cingulid is thin. The m2 is a relatively small molar. The paralophid is elongated and bi-partitioned. The paraconid is higher than the reduced metaconid. The talonid is square to rectangular. The entoconid is included within the entocristid. The hypoconid is well differentiated. The oblique cristid is parallel to the entocristid. The hypolophid is straight and ends as a low cusplet at the posterolingual corner. In unworn specimens, a short valley separates this cusplet from the entoconid. One out of seven specimens displays a robust accessory cuspule inside the talonid basin (Fig. 8.12). The narrow labial cingulid is either continuous or only present anteriorly.

Material

See Table 6 for measurements. Šalgovce 5: five I1, 12 A1, six A2, five fragments of P4, five fragments of M1, 11 i1, six a1, one p4, 12 m1, seven m2, two edentulous mandibles.

Table 6.

Measurements (in mm) of Amblycoptus jessiae from Šalgovce 5 (MN12), Slovakia. AW = anterior width; H = height; L = length; LL = lingual length; LT = length of the talon; N = number of specimens; PW = posterior width; TAW = talonid width; TRW = trigonid width; W = width.

Remarks

Three species of large European Anourosoricini are identified in the late Neogene: Amblycoptus oligodon (MN11–MN13), A. jessiae (MN13), and A. topali (MN14–MN16). The m1/m2 ratio increases from the oldest to the youngest species because the m2 tends to become smaller. Doukas et al. (Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Theocharopoulos, Reumer and Schmidt-Kittler1995) identified a clear evolution of the posterolingual area in m1, as the entoconid, which is dominant in A. oligodon, is barely separated from the entostylid in A. jessiae and completely absorbed by it in A. topali. In the upper dentition, the A1 is smaller in A. oligodon than in A. jessiae. Both A. jessiae and A. topali also display a distinct parastyle on A1 (Doukas et al., Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Theocharopoulos, Reumer and Schmidt-Kittler1995; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1996, Reference Mészáros1997). Additionally, Mészáros (Reference Mészáros1997) observed an anterior displacement of the lingual cusp on A2 between A. oligodon and A. topali. On P4, the parastyle is situated relatively posteriorly in A. topali. The latter is also identified by the straight anterior, lingual and posterior margin of the P4 and M1. Finally, A. topali does not have A3, which is still present in A. oligodon according to Mészáros (Reference Mészáros1997).

The species from Šalgovce 5 shares strong morphological and morphometrical characteristics with A. jessiae from MN13 of Maramena (Doukas et al., Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Theocharopoulos, Reumer and Schmidt-Kittler1995) and Las Casiones (Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2004). Our material is distinct from A. oligodon by having a longer A1, a distinct parastyle on A1, a shallower postentoconid valley on m1, a relatively small m2, and by the punctual presence of a cuspule on the talonid basin of m1–2. On the other hand, the frequency of hypocone on A1 and the usually superficial postentoconid valley on m1 are somewhat intermediate between A. oligodon and A. jessiae. This supports the interpretation that the material from Šalgovce 5 corresponds to a very early A. jessiae.

The presence of a minute cuspule inside the talonid basin of 2/5 m1 and 1/7 m2 (Fig. 8.10, 8.12) is an exceptional characteristic for an eulipotyphlan species. From a biomechanical point of view, this reduces the efficiency of the protocone/talonid mortar complex. Our material includes only a single M1 displaying a classic protocone, which limits the discussion. It is worth noting that a talonid cuspule is also present in one m2 of Crusafontina kormosi from Šalgovce 5 and in specimens from MN12 of Tardosbánya (Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998b, pl. 1, fig. 9.11).

Mészáros (Reference Mészáros1997) provided a thorough comparative study of both A. oligodon and A. topali, resulting in the inclusion of the last species within the new genus Kordosia. Additionally, Mészáros (Reference Mészáros1997) highlighted the very intermediate position of A. jessiae, considered in his work under the designation Kordosia? jessiae. Doukas (Reference Doukas, Van den Hoek Ostende, Doukas and Reumer2005) argued that the main distinction between Amblycoptus and Kordosia, the loss of the A3, cannot be checked in the known material of A. jessiae. The presence of A3 in A. oligodon is only suggested by a tiny alveolus found in two maxillaries described by Kormos (Reference Kormos1926, pl. III, fig. 1a vs. fig. 2). It appears that A. oligodon, A. jessiae, and A. topali belong to a single anagenetic lineage and that A. topali is not related to Anourosex (see Van Dam, Reference Van Dam2010). No boundaries can be drawn separating these species, as shown by the early A. jessiae from Šalgovce 5 and the somewhat basal A. topali from Osztramos 1 (Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1997, fig.5). A generic division is thus poorly justified. Consequently, A. topali is kept within Amblycoptus, as originally described by Jánossy (Reference Jánossy1972).

Type species

Asoriculus gibberodon (Petényi, Reference Petényi1864).

Other referred species

Asoriculus castellarini (Pasa, Reference Pasa1947); A. thenii Malez and Rabeder, Reference Malez and Rabeder1984; A. maghrebensis Rzebik-Kowalska, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska1988; A. burgioi Masini and Sarà, Reference Masini and Sarà1998.

Diagnosis

See Kretzoi (Reference Kretzoi1959, p. 238), as “Asoriculus n. sg.”

Occurrence

Asoriculus is present from MN12 to the Early Pleistocene of Europe (Reumer, Reference Reumer1984; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998b; Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets2016; Joniak et al., Reference Joniak, Hír, Šujan and Mészáros2017; Moya-Costa et al., Reference Moya-Costa, Cuenca-Bescós and Rofes2023).

Holotype

Skull with right I1–M3 and left A3–M3, MÁFI Ob. 3685, Beremend, Hungary (Reumer, Reference Reumer1984).

Figure 9.

Scanning electron photomicrographs of Asoriculus gibberodon from Šalgovce 5 (1–5) and Petenyia dubia from Krásno (6–11) and Šalgovce 5 (12–21). (1) A2?, SG198601; (2) M1, SG198602; (3) M1, SG198603; (4) p4, SG198604; (5) m2, SG198601. (6) P4, KR127252; (7) M2, KR127253; (8) M2, KR127255; (9) m1, KR127278; (10) m2, KR127282; (11) m3, KR127292. (12) I1, labial view, SG198440; (13) P4, SG198450; (14) M1, SG198461; (15) M1, SG198463; (16) M2, SG198457; (17) i1, SG198494, labial view; (18) fragment of mandible with i1 and m1, SG198510, labial view; (19) fragment of mandible with m1, SG198511; (20) m2, SG198540; (21) m3, SG198574. Images with underlined numbers are reversed.

Diagnosis

See Reumer (Reference Reumer1984, p. 94), under the name Episoriculus gibberodon.

Occurrence

From MN12 to the Early Pleistocene (Reumer, Reference Reumer1984; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998b; Furió, Reference Furió2007; Joniak et al., Reference Joniak, Hír, Šujan and Mészáros2017; Moya-Costa et al., Reference Moya-Costa, Cuenca-Bescós and Rofes2023).

Description

All teeth are slightly pigmented.

The A2? is elongated and asymmetrical. The pointy main cusp is included in a centrocrista, turning lingually at the anterior margin to join the lingual cingulum. The posterolingual corner is situated anterior to the posterolabial corner. The labial cingulum is similar to the lingual one. The single root is strongly oriented backward.

The long M1 has a W-shaped labial complex. The parastyle creates a hook with the short preparacrista at the anterolabial corner. The postmetacrista is elongated. The preprotocrista is very slightly curved and reaches the anterior flank of the paracone. The posterior part of the postprotocrista is split into two crests: one ends freely in the middle of the lingual area; the other touches the base of the strong metacone. A broad valley separates these anterolingual structures from the hypocone. A short posthypocrista is present, not connected to the continuous posterior cingulum (Fig. 9.2). This configuration of the short posthypocrista is thus intermediate between morphotypes A and B (sensu Reumer, Reference Reumer1984). The posterior emargination is strong. The M2 has a smaller dimension than the M1. The preparacrista, postparacrista, and premetacrista are relatively long, with the postmetacrista being still the longest labial crest. The connection between the postprotocrista and the base of the metacone is much weaker than on M1. The hypocone is clearly connected to the posterior cingulum (morphotype B; Fig. 9.3).

The p4 has a strong cuspid with a subtriangular base and is in a central position. A crest connects the cuspid to the anterior margin before turning lingually. The posterior crest has a posterolabial orientation before bending to the central part of the posterior border (Fig. 9.4). Narrow posterolingual and posterolabial cingulids are present.

The narrow trigonid of the m2 is as long as the trigonid. The paralophid is elongated and bi-partitioned. The paraconid is slightly projected anteriorly and is as high as the metaconid. The entoconid is high and pointy. The entocristid is very low. The oblique cristid connects the broad hypoconid to the posterolingual base of the protoconid. The hypolophid is slightly curved. The postentoconid valley is narrow. A continuous cingulid is present on the labial and posterior flank. In labial view, the anteriormost part of the cingulid slopes up. A faint lingual cingulid is visible.

Material

Šalgovce 5: one A2? (L = 0.89, W = 0,70), one M1 (BL = 1.42, PE = 1.01, LL = 1.34, AW = 1.42, PW = 1.67), one M2 (BL = 1.19, PE = 1.02, LL = 1.28, PW = 1.52), one p4 (L = 1.12, W = 0.87), two m2 (L = 1.38, TRW = 0.79, TAW = 0.87; TAW = 0.81).

Remarks

These specimens show clear nectogaline affinities. The combination of relatively small size, slightly pigmented teeth, slightly fissident I1, M1–2 with broad talon and a distinct hypocone, and m2 with a low entocristid are good indicators of Asoriculus. Our material fits the single Late Miocene Asoriculus, A. gibberodon, as described from numerous localities (e.g., Reumer, Reference Reumer1984; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998b; Furió, Reference Furió2007).

The long stratigraphic range of A. gibberodon is a consequence of its broad morphological and morphometric variability. This motivated Reumer (Reference Reumer1984) to synonymize A. gibberodon with A. tornensis Jánossy, Reference Jánossy1972, and A. borsodensis Jánossy, Reference Jánossy1972. According to Reumer (Reference Reumer1984), the validity of Asoriculus castellarini also requires investigation. Asoriculus possibly occurs in the early Turolian of Moldova (Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Lungu2009) and Ukraine (Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets2016), under the denomination ?Asoriculus sp. and cf. Asoriculus sp., respectively. The specimens described from Popovo 3 (MN11) and Verkhnyaya Krynitsa 2 (MN11/12) by Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets (Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets2016) display m1–2 with relatively high entocristid compared to A. gibberodon. The material from Šalgovce 5 and Tardosbánya (MN12; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998b) does not display such distinctions and thus constitutes the oldest firm records of A. gibberodon, alongside the very limited simple from Vértesacsa, Hungary (?MN12; Joniak et al., Reference Joniak, Hír, Šujan and Mészáros2017). At the same time, these mentions represent the earliest record of the Nectogalini.

The temporal distribution of A. gibberodon implies a longevity of at least 6 ma., which is high for a soricid species and likely the consequence of a reduced competition (see Van den Hoek Ostende et al., Reference Van den Hoek Ostende, Bilgin, Braumuller, Cailleux, Skandalos, Casanovas-Vilar, Van den Hoek Ostende, Janis and Saarinen2023). This suggests that A. gibberodon was occupying one of the specialized niches of the Nectogalini, a tribe including semi-fossorial, semi-aquatic, and scansorial taxa (see He et al., Reference He, Li, Brandley, Lin, Wang, Zhang and Jiang2010). Asoriculus gibberodon probably was using riparian environments as ecological corridors, so that the three locomotory reconstructions are plausible considering the lack of postcranial evidence.

Type species

Petenyia hungarica Kormos, Reference Kormos1934.

Other referred species

Petenyia dubia Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970; P. katrinae Qiu and Storch, Reference Qiu and Storch2000.

Diagnosis

See Storch (Reference Storch1995, p. 230).

Occurrence

Petenyia is recorded from the late Middle Miocene (Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2003; Prieto, Reference Prieto2007), Late Miocene (Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970; Kordos, Reference Kordos1991; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998b; Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a; Furió et al., Reference Furió, Van Dam and Kaya2014; Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets2016), Pliocene (Storch and Qiu, Reference Qiu and Storch2000; Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets, Reference Rzebik-Kowalska and Rekovets2016), and Pleistocene (Reumer, Reference Reumer1984) of Eurasia. The inclusion of Petenyia dubia within Plioblarinella (von Koenigswald and Reumer, Reference von Koenigswald and Reumer2020), which is not followed here, would restrict Petenyia to the Pliocene and Pleistocene.

Holotype

Fragment of left mandible with m1–3, NHMW 1970/1387, Kohfidisch, Austria (Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970).

Diagnosis

See Reumer (Reference Reumer1984, p. 66), under the name Blarinella dubia.

Occurrence

From MN9 to MN14 of Europe (Bachmayer and Wilson, Reference Bachmayer and Wilson1970; Mészáros, Reference Mészáros1998b; Ziegler, Reference Ziegler2006a; Furió, Reference Furió2007) and MN10 to MN12 of Anatolia (Furió et al., Reference Furió, Van Dam and Kaya2014).

Description

All teeth are moderately to strongly pigmented.

The I1 is strongly procumbent and elongated. The dorsal margin is weakly curved. The talon has a triangular outline in lateral view. The labial cingulum is oblique. The A1 has a low main cusp in anterior position and a centrocrista reaching the anterior and posterior border. A narrow cingulum surrounds the tooth, except for at the anterior border. The posterior section of the crest is slightly curved. The P4 has very high paracone and parastyle, which are connected by a sharp and short preparacrista. The high postparacrista is sharp and oblique. The protocone is visible on unworn specimens and included in the anterior V-shaped ridge. The preprotocrista marks the anterior central margin. The postprotocrista ends freely lingually to the paracone. The shallow basin is surrounded on the lingual and posterior border by a continuous ridge. The central part of the lingual ridge is thicker (hypocone).

On the quadrangular M1, the metacone and paracone are antero-posteriorly compressed. The preparacrista and premetacrista are short and parallel. The postparacrista and postmetacrista are longer and also parallel. A cingulum is present between the mesostyle and the metastyle. The anterolingual area is occupied by a U-shaped crest constituted by the preprotocrista, the protocone, and the free-ending postprotocrista. A thin crest connects the postprotocrista to the base of the metacone. The posterolingual corner bears a large hypoconal flange surrounded by a ridge. The M2 differs from the M1 only by its slightly smaller dimensions, the slightly more lingual position of the protocone, and the more rounded posterolingual margin (Fig. 9.14, 9.15 vs. Fig. 9.16).

The mandible has a straight ramus, and the incisor is almost parallel to it. Two broad aveoli are found between the i1 and the m1 (Fig. 9.18) corresponding to the a1 and the p4. The mental foramen is found below the talonid of the m1.

The i1 is tricuspulate and has a slightly bent apex cusp. The p4 is subtriangular and exaenodont. The main cuspid is connected to the pointy anterior margin by a thin ridge. A short, straight crest originates from the posterolingual flank of the cuspids and ends before joining the border. A bi-partitioned posterolabial crest connects the tip of the cuspid to the central posterior margin. A thin posterolingual cingulid is present.

The m1 is quadrangular. The paraconid has a triangular base and is included in a sharp, bi-partitioned paralophid. The metaconid is well developed and the metalophid is short. The trigonid valley is deep. On the posterior part, the entoconid is conical and connected to the flank of the metaconid by a high and straight entocristid. The oblique cristid is straight and is attached to the central part of the trigonid wall. The hypolophid ends abruptly at the posterolingual corner. The postentoconid valley is deep. A continuous cingulid is present all around the molar, except for directly below the paraconid. The m2 differs from the m1 by the more compressed trigonid, the less anterior direction of the paralophid, the more labial metaconid, and the wider metalophid. This leads to an even more rectangular outline. The m3 has an enlarged trigonid and reduced talonid. The paraconid and metaconid have the same height. The paralophid is straight. The talonid has a single cuspid, connected to the trigonid wall by a high cristid (Fig. 9.21). The cingulid surrounds all the m3 except for between the paraconid and the metaconid. The anterolabial section of the cingulid is thick.

Material

See Table 7 for measurements. Studienka E (P. cf. P. dubia): one A1 (L = 0.99, W = 0.84), one M2 (Pe = 1.12, LL = 1.32, AW = 1.47), two m2 (L = 1.35, TRW = 0.85, TAW = 0.84).

Table 7.

Measurements (in mm) of Petenyia dubia from Krásno (MN11) and Šalgovce 5 (MN12), Slovakia. AW = anterior width; BL = labial length; H = height; L = length; LL = lingual length; LT = length of the talon; N = number of specimens; PE = length of the posterior emargination; PW = posterior width; TAW = talonid width; TRW = trigonid width; W = width.

Pezinok (P. cf. P. dubia): one M2 (BL = 1.35, PE = 1.19, LL = 1.30, TRW = 1.47, TAW = 1.52).

Triblavina (P. dubia): one I1 (L = 1.76, LT = 1.15, H = 1.04), one M1 (BL = 1.18, Pe = 1.06, LL = 1.12), one M2 (BL = 1.24), one M1/2 (BL = 1.33), one m1 (L = 1.35, TAW = 0.88), one m3.

Krásno (P. dubia): one I1, one P4, three M1, four M2, five M1/M2, six i1, six m1, 12 m2, one m1/m2, five m3.

Šalgovce 4 (P. cf. P. dubia): one fragment of m3.

Šalgovce 5 (P. dubia): nine I1, five P4, 11 M1, 10 M2, 11 i1, two p4, 20 m1, 22 m2, eight m3.

Remarks

These samples all display the diagnostic features of Petenyia dubia: the P4–M2 with a reduced posterolingual flank and with no posterior emargination, the P4 with protruding parastyle, the M1–2 with a freely ending postprotocrista and no hypocone, and the rectangular m1–2 with thick cingulids and high entocristid.

When describing the Late Miocene insectivores from Austria, Ziegler (Reference Ziegler2006a) considered the existence of Petenyia aff. P. dubia previous to and contemporaneous with the fauna of Kohfidisch, as several samples apparently have narrower lower molars. This statement is mainly based on the sample from Schernham. Other samples (Richardhof–Golfplatz, Richardhof–Wald, Eichkogel) have slightly smaller lower molars but do not show a clear change in the L/W ratio, which is also the case in the Slovak material. Additionally, the minor difference in size of the lower molars does not exceed 5% of the mean size of the type material, and the measurements of most lower molars are found within the variability of the material from Kohfidisch. Consequently, the material from Richardhof–Golfplatz, Richardhof–Wald, and Eichkogel is, alongside the main Slovak materials, attributed to P. dubia without reservation. The materials from Studienka E, Pezinok, and Šalgovce 4 are attributed to P. cf. P. dubia because of the limited sample size.