Rzebikia, Sansalone & Kotsakis & Piras, 2016

Sansalone, Gabriele, Kotsakis, Tassos & Piras, Paolo, 2016, New systematic insights about Plio-Pleistocene moles from Poland, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 61 (1), pp. 221-229 : 223-224

Genus Rzebikia nov.

Type species: Rzebikia polonica ( Skoczeń, 1980) ; see below.

Included species: Type species and Rzebikia skoczeni ( Zijlstra, 2010) .

Etymology: Dedicated to Barbara Rzebik-Kowalska for her extensive and fundamental contributions to the knowledge of Eulipotyphla .

Diagnosis.—Humerus with moderate digging adaptations having a large teres tubercle separated by a marked notch from the pectoral ridge, partially unfused bicipital tunnel (the suture between the proximity of the pectoral ridge and the lesser tuberosity is present but not complete; see Fig. 2A ), large minor sulcus, lesser tuberosity poorly developed toward the proximal end of the shaft. p4 with straight metacristid and distinct entoconid separated from the protoconid by a furrow. The cingula are weakly developed with the M 1 having the precingulid extending only halfway its width. The entoconids of both M 1 and M 2 are robust and displaced lingually making the lingual side of the lower molars concave. The M1 and M2 bear a strong paraconule. The M2 lack precingulum and the parastyle is separated from the paracrista. The clavicle dorsal prominence of the manubrial articular facet is straight and the ventral process line is concave and possess two small spines.

Stratigraphic and geographic range.—Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary, Poland, Late Villanyian (MN17) localities: Kadzielnia, Zamkowa Dolna Cave A, Kielniki 3B; Ruscinian–Villanyian (MN15, MN16) boundary, locality Węże 2, Early Villanyian (MN16), locality Rębielice Królewskie 1A. Bulgaria, Villanyian (MN17), locality Varshets.

Figures

Fig. 2. Photographs showing the different conditions of the bicipital tunnel (arrowed) in talpid mammals. A. Rzebikia polonica (Skoczeń, 1980) gen. nov. (MF/1020/1), Early Villanyian (MN 16) of Poland, Rębielice Królewskie 1A, frontal view with partially unfused bicipital tunnel. B. Urotrichus talpoides Temminck, 1841 (NMNS 28207), Recent, frontal view with completely open bicipital tunnel. C. Neurotrichus gibbsii Baird, 1856 (LACM 93944), Recent, lateral view with completely fused bicipital tunnel.