Microgale pusilla Major, 1896

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 : 815-816

Microgale pusilla Major, 1896

Attributed material: Upper Stratum: 143 maxillae and maxillary fragments, 49 mandibular rami; see Appendix.

Two specimens of M. pusilla with intact maxillae exhibit the third premolar (P4) in process of eruption (Stage 2 of MacPhee 1987), in two others the second incisor (I2) or P3 is erupting (MacPhee’s Stage 3) and in two specimens the canines are erupting (Stage 4).

A few specimens of M. pusilla exhibit dp2, dp3 or dp4, and in one specimen p3 is in process of erupting (Stage 3).

Major described M. pusilla based on specimens he collected from two localities in southeastern Madagascar, while recognising that subfossil remains in the Children’s Cave, for which he had previously used the label name ‘ parva ’, belonged to the same taxon. Microgale pusilla is relatively rarely represented in museum collections and these museum specimens cluster within the lower to mid-part of the range of the Children’s Cave subfossils on ARL ( Figure 11 ). No contemporary living specimens of M. pusilla were collected by Major from Antsirabe and the surrounding area, which suggests either that the species was not present or poorly represented in the area at that time or that it proved difficult to trap, perhaps because of its small size. Modern methods of standard pitfall trapping at other locations have also shown low abundance for this species where, if present, it is recorded mostly from one and rarely by three or four specimens. However, remains of this species were identified in fresh owl pellets at Antsifotrakely, a small rock shelter in Antsifotra volcano (approx. 19.857°S, 46.902°E), 5 km E of Betafo and approximately 10–18 km W of Antsirabe ( MacPhee 1987). The species has also been recorded from four Central Highlands Protected Areas sites, at Ambohitantely, Tsinjoarivo-Ambalaomby, Ibity and Itremo ( Goodman et al. 2000; Goodman et al. 2018; Goodman and Soarimalala 2004).

Figures

Figure 11. Measurements of subfossil specimens of Microgale pusilla from the Children’s Cave in comparison with modern representatives of the species. Measurements in millimetres. ARL:ascending ramus length; MH: mandible height.