Allocricetus ehiki Schaub, 1930

Popov, Vasil V., 2004, Pliocene small mammals (Mammalia, Lipotyphla, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, Rodentia) from Muselievo (North Bulgaria), Geodiversitas 26 (3), pp. 403-491 : 461

Allocricetus ehiki Schaub, 1930 ( Fig. 30 )

Allocricetus ehiki Schaub, 1930: 34 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 3 M1 (Ms312, 314, 315), 1 M3 (Ms319), 3 m 1 (Ms306-308), 3 m 2 (Ms316- 318).

MEASUREMENTS (L × W). — M1 = 2.35 × 1.65; 2.25 × 1.54; 2.10 × 1.44; M3 = 1.40 × 1.25; m1 = 2.09 × 1.42; 2.04 × 1.29; 2.16 × 1.37; m2 = 1.66 × 1.34; 1.70 × 1.40; 1.70 × 1.29.

DESCRIPTION

m1: the anteroconid is separated in two small cusps. One aberrant specimen (Ms308) possesses an extra cuspule between these cusps and they are practically connected. The anterolophulid is single, connected with the anterior part of the metaconid. There is no mesolophid. The protosinusid and the sinusid are closed by low cingula. The posterolophid does not reach the base of the entoconid.

m2: the lingual branch of the anterior cingulum is short, while the labial one is well developed. There is no mesolophid.

M1: during the early stages of wear, the inner part of the valleys between the main opposite tubercles become pits. The valley between the two parts of the anterocone opens anteriorly.

M3: both branches of the anteroloph are well developed. There are two pits between the opposite main cusps.

REMARKS

The simplified occlusal pattern distinguishes the material from the Pliocene hamsters of comparable size. In the same time, the available teeth are similar to the latest Pliocene and early Pleistocene populations of Allocricetus ehiki from Poland ( Pradel 1988). The studied m2s lack a mesolophid, differing in this way from Mesocricetus primitivus ( De Bruijn et al. 1970) .

Family ARVICOLIDAE Gray, 1821

Figures

FIG. 30. — Allocricetus ehiki Schaub, 1930, molars in occlusal view; A, left M1, Ms314; B, left M1, Ms315; C, right M1, Ms312; D, right m1, Ms308; E, left m1, Ms307; F, right m1, Ms306; G, right m2, Ms318; H, right m2, Ms316; I, right M3, Ms319. Scale bar: 1 mm.