Paraphiomys, Antoñanzas & Sen & Mein, 2004

Antoñanzas, Raquel López, Sen, Sevket & Mein, Pierre, 2004, Systematics and phylogeny of the cane rats (Rodentia: Thryonomyidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 142, pp. 423-444 : 429

PARAPHIOMYS SHIPMANI DENYS ET JAEGER, 1992

This species ( Fig. 3I) was described and illustrated by Denys & Jaeger (1992: 77) based on five mandibular rami from the Middle Miocene of Fort Ternan, Kenya. The holotype (KNM FT 3305) is a right mandible with d4-m3. Unfortunately, no upper tooth of this taxon has been found to date. Paraphiomys shipmani mainly differs from P. pigotti , P. hopwoodi , Paraphiomys sp. nov. from Saudi Arabia, P. occidentalis , Epiphiomys coryndoni and Sacaresia moyaeponsi in the absence of metalophulid II in the lower molars. It is distinct from Kochalia geespei in its larger m3 without metaconid hook and with a very small hypoconulid ( Denys & Jaeger, 1992). Paraphiomys shipmani is clearly smaller and less hypsodont than Neosciuromys africanus and P. simonsi . Despite the fact that it is morphologically very close to P. renelavocati sp. nov. and to Apodecter stromeri , it differs from these in size. One of the differences between P. shipmani and P. orangeus is the absence of anteroconid on the p4 of the former. Paraphiomys shipmani is smaller than P. roessneri and P. australis , and it shows on the lower molars a prominent labial anteroconid, missing in the latter species. The basic morphology of the lower molars of P. shipmani is similar to that of the lower molars of P. afarensis . However, the former is smaller and it shows the hypolophid more posteriorly directed. Paraphiomys shipmani differs from the two species of Paraulacodus primarily in being smaller and having the hypolophid posteriorly directed. Additionally, it is distinct from Paraulacodus johanesi in having a very low antero-external cingular cusp that is not connected to the protoconid.