Evolution and Taxonomy of the Pleistocene North Asian Zokors, Genus Siphneus (Myospalacidae, Rodentia, Mammalia)

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Abstract

According to the concept proposed by the authors of dividing modern rootless zokors and their ancestral Pleistocene rootless forms into the genera Myospalax, Siphneus, and Eospalax, Manchurian and Daurian zokors were assigned to the genus Siphneus. In this paper details of the morphological differences of the genus Siphneus and analysis of the evolutionary lineages among the genus are presented. A new phylogenetic scheme is proposed, in which a new species S. tolaensis sp. nov. ancestral to the Daurian zokors is described on the basis of remains from the Nalaikha locality (Mongolia, late Early – early Middle Pleistocene).

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About the authors

S. E. Golovanov

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: svrgolovanov@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow, 119991

V. S. Zazhigin

Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: zazhvol@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow, 119017

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2. Fig. 1. Modern ranges of Manchurian (horizontal lines) and Daurian (dots) tsokors (according to: Sokolov, Orlov, 1980; Puzachenko et al., 2013; Bazhenov, Pavlenko, 2020). The locations of Nalaikh and Dodogol are marked with red hexagons.

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3. Fig. 2. A diagram with the designations of the structural elements of the chewing surface of the upper (a) and lower (b) molars in the caps. Designations: BRA/bra – incoming buccal angles; LRA/lra – incoming lingual angles; T/t – dentine prisms; AL – anterior prisms of the maxillary row; ac – anterior part of the lower first molar; pl – posterior prism of the mandibular row.

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4. Fig. 3. Ontogenetic development of the molars of the Daurian and Manchurian caps: a – ontogenetic development of the upper molars of the Manchurian caps, b – Daurian; c – ontogenetic development of the lower molars of the Manchurian caps, d – Daurian.

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5. Fig. 4. Siphneus tolaensis sp. nov.: a–g – GIN holotype, No. 1104/107, left m2: a – view from the chewing side; b – view from the alveolar side; c – view from the lingual side; d – view from the buccal side; d–g – successive ontogenetic stages on the an example of the buccal side of m2 copies. GIN, No. 1104/105, 107, 109.

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6. Fig. 5. Siphneus tolaensis sp. nov., ex. GIN, No. 1104/100–115, view from the chewing surface. The lower molars (m1, m2 and m3) are shown on the left, and the upper molars (M1, M2 and M3) are on the right. The sequence of numbering of the samples coincides with the sequence of their designation in the figure: a – No. 1104/100, b – No. 1104/101... p – No. 1104/115.

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7. Fig. 6. Morphotypic variability of molars in the groups of Daurian and Manchurian caps. The designations of the M1 morphotypes of the Daurian caps are: I–M1 – with complete reduction of protoflexus, II–M1 – with partially reduced protoflexus without enamel, III–M1 – with partially reduced protoflexus with enamel.

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8. Fig. 7. Siphneus aspalax Pallas, 1776, ex. GENE, No. 624/31, skull with right and left M1–3, computed tomography: a – from the dorsal side, b – from the left lateral side, c–from the ventral side, d–e – consecutive incisions in the axial projection showing the bases of the upper molars; Russia, Buryatia, the location of Dodogol; the first half the Middle Pleistocene.

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