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Vertebrata Palasiatica ›› 2016, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (4): 286-301.

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Sciurid remains from the Late Cenozoic fissure-fillings of Fanchang, Anhui, China 

QIU Zhu-Ding    JIN Chang-Zhu    

  • Online:2016-12-15 Published:2016-12-15

安徽繁昌晚新生代裂隙堆积中的松鼠类化石

邱铸鼎,金昌柱     

Abstract:  Remains of sciurids from a late Cenozoic fissure in Anhui, China are described. Six taxa, including one new genus and two new species, representing five genera and four tribes in the subfamily Sciurinae are recognized. They are Sciurus sp., Tamias sp., Plesiosciurus zhengi sp. nov.,Sciurotamias wangi Qiu, 2002, S. teilhardi Zheng, 1993, and Pseudoratufa wanensis gen. et sp. nov. The material described was collected from four levels of the fissure fillings. On the basis of the fossil content and coloration, the collection is considered to be a mixed sample with elements representing a rather long interval, probably ranging from the Early Miocene to the Pleistocene. The assemblage shows similar traits of the late Cenozoic sciurine faunas from central and southern China, and contains an intriguing genusPseudoratufa. Characters of the latter’s dentition clearly demonstrate that the new-comer of ratufin is a tree squirrel; Pseudoratufa is probably coeval with the Fanchang hominoid, and with Diatomys and beavers found in this fissure. The joint occurrence of these taxa seems to be indicative of existence of forest biotopes once in this district during the earlier Miocene. 

摘要: 描述了安徽繁昌癞痢山塘口晚新生代裂隙堆积物中发现的松鼠类材料。化石代表松鼠亚科的4个族,共有5属6种,其中包括一个新属和两个新种,即树松鼠族的Sciurus sp., 花鼠族的Tamias sp.和Plesiosciurus zhengi sp. nov., 旱獭族的Sciurotamias wangi Qiu, 2002和S. teilhardi Zheng, 1993, 以及巨松鼠族的Pseudoratufa wanensis gen. et sp. nov.。所研究的材料系混合地采自同一裂隙堆积的4个不同层位,化石的组分可能代表从早中新世至更新世的不同时段。繁昌的这一松鼠组合具有中国中南部晚新生代松鼠动物群的特色,并含有稀奇的Pseudoratufa属。该新属的牙齿形态显示了其树栖松鼠的特征,而且可以归入甚为稀有的巨松鼠族。其遗骸具有与该地点发现的古猿、硅藻鼠和河狸类化石相似的石化和堆积过程,似乎表明这些动物属于时代相同或较接近的群体,它们的共存也说明了繁昌地区在中新世时有过相对湿润的森林生境。