Paludicola 6(4):144-154 June 2008 © by the Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology EARLY ARIKAREEAN (LATE OLIGOCENE) EOMYIDAE (MAMMALIA, RODENTIA) FROM NEBRASKA William W. Korth Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology, 265 Carling Road, Rochester New York 14610 <[email protected]> ABSTRACT Five species of eomyid rodents are recognized from the earliest Arikareean (late Oligocene) Ridgeview local fauna of Nebraska. This is the greatest diversity of Arikareean eomyids of any fauna known from North America. The species recognized are Leptodonotmys douglassi (Burke), Leptodontomys sp., Neoadjidaumo hemedapus n. gen. et n. sp., Pentabuneomys engesseri n. sp., and Zophoapeomys sp. It is suggested that nearly all of these species were derived from earlier North American eomyids. Based on the early occurrence in the Ridgeview fauna, Pentabuneomys and subfamily Apeomyinae likely migrated to Europe from North America near the beginning of the Miocene. Neoadjidaumo is viewed as being derived from earlier North American eomyids but developed some dental morphologies convergent with those of the European Miocene genus Ritteneria Stehlin and Schaub. INTRODUCTION eomyids from the Arikareean of North America to six genera and at least seven different species. Eomyid rodents first appear in North America in All of the specimens described below are from the the Uintan (middle Eocene) and persist until the end of Ridgeview local fauna that is dated as the earliest the Hemphillian (late Miocene), reaching their greatest Arikareean (Ar1 of Tedford et al., 2004), which has diversity in the Chadronian and Orellan (latest Eocene been referred to the latest Oligocene. The stratigraphy, to early Oligocene [Korth, 1994]). Since the Orellan, locality data, and age of this fauna are described in no more than four species of eomyids are known from detail by Bailey (2004). any time interval. Although eomyids are known from Dental nomenclature used below is modified from several North American Arikareean faunas Wood and Wilson (1936). Abbreviation used for (Macdonald, 1972; Korth, 1992; Albright, 1996, 1998; University of Nebraska State Museum specimens and Storer, 2002), they are usually represented by only a localities is UNSM. few isolated cheek teeth. The most diverse Arikareean eomyid fauna previously cited was from Saskatchewan, SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY where three different species have been recognized, but this fauna was based on only ten isolated cheek teeth Family Eomyidae Winge, 1887 (Storer, 2002). Subfamily Eomyinae Winge, 1887 The best represented species of eomyid Leptodontomys Shotwell, 1956 previously known from the Arikareean was Leptodontomys douglassi (Burke, 1934) Leptodontomys douglassi, known from several jaws (Figures 1, 2B; Table 1) and maxillary fragments from a single fossil quarry in Dawes County, Nebraska (Korth and Bailey, 1992). Adjidaumo douglassi Burke, 1934 This quarry has since been more extensively excavated Leptodontomys douglassi (Burke) Korth and Bailey, and referred to as the Ridgeview local fauna (Bailey, 1992 2004). The material described below is from the Referred Specimens—UNSM 26533, 130288 to Ridgeview fauna and is the most diverse and best 130295, 130398 to 130425, 130431, 130432, lower represented fauna of eomyids (greater number and dental elements; UNSM 26511, 26523, 130284, more complete specimens) from the Arikareean of 130426 to 130430, maxillae with upper cheek teeth. North America. Five species of eomyids are Description—Specimens of Leptodontomys recognized from the Ridgeview fauna, based on over douglassi from UNSM locality Dw-121 (Ridgeview 60 specimens including complete upper and lower fauna) have been described previously (Korth and dentitions. The diversity of eomyids from the Bailey, 1992). However, the description of the upper Ridgeview fauna increases the number of known cheek teeth was based on a specimen (UNSM 26531) 144 ARIKAREEAN EOMYID RODENTS FROM NEBRASKA 145 other cusps. There is no indication of a posterior cingulum. P4 is smaller than the first two molars and quadrate. The four major cusps (paracone, metacone, hypocone, protocone) are of equal size and show a minor degree of anteroposterior compression. There is a small anterior cingulum originating in the middle of the protoloph with a minute capsule and running along the anterior slope of the paracone. The endoloph is variably complete. In specimens where it is not complete, a narrow valley separates the protocone from the anterior end of the mesoloph. A mesoloph is present but short on all specimens. The protoloph is slightly bowed anteriorly. The metaloph runs directly lingually from the metacone to the center of the hypocone. A distinct but small mesostyle is present along the buccal margin of the tooth, equally spaced between the paracone and metacone. The posterior cingulum runs the entire width of the tooth, arising from the hypocone and running to the buccal edge of the tooth. The first two molars are nearly identical in occlusal morphology, M2 being only slightly smaller than M1. The anterior cingulum is much stronger than in the premolar and runs from the centerline of the tooth to the buccal margin, isolating a transverse valley between it and the protoloph and paracone. The protoloph runs directly lingually from the paracone to the protocone, joining the latter cusp just anterior to its center. The endoloph is always complete with a short FIGURE 1. Dentition and mandible of Leptodontomys douglassi mesoloph or small, triangular mesocone. The from the Ridgeview fauna (locality UNSM Dw-121). A, Right P4- mesostyle is always present and more strongly 3 4 M , UNSM 130430. B, Left P4-M3, UNSM 26533. C, Same developed than on P . The posterior cingulum is as in specimen as B, lateral view of mandible. Bar scales = 1 mm. the premolar. _______________________________________________________ M3 is greatly reduced in size, especially its (anteroposterior) length. The protoloph is similar to that appears to be referable to a different, smaller that of the anterior molars, but the paracone and species. The description of the lower dentition and protocone are reduced in size. The anterior cingulum mandible are not changed from that of Korth and parallels the protoloph, and both are oriented directly Bailey (1992). The only lower tooth not described buccolingually. The posterior half of the tooth is earlier was M . The last molar is smaller than the first 3 greatly reduced. The metacone is a minute cusp at the two. The anterior half of the tooth is very similar to the buccal end of the metaloph and the hypocone is not anterior molars. The anterior cingulum attaches to the recognizable. The metaloph and posterior cingulum metalophid near its center and extends both lingually join at their ends forming on ovate loop with a shallow and buccally, but not for the entire width of the tooth. central depression. The mesostyle is minute. The very The metaconid and protoconid are slightly short endoloph is reduced to a minute connection anteroposteriorly compressed. The metalophid is between the lingual end of the metaloph and the continuous and forms a straight line from the protocone. metaconid to the protoconid. The ectolophid is Discussion—Leptodontomys douglassi is the complete from the protoconid to the hypoconid. The most abundant eomyid in the Ridgeview fauna. It is mesolophid is relatively long, usually longer than in the easily distinguishable from the species described below anterior molars, but never reaches the lingual margin of by its smaller size (except Leptodontomys sp.) and the tooth. The hypolophid is a posteriorly bowed loph morphology of the cheek teeth (lower crown height; connecting the entoconid and hypoconid. The complete ectolophids; longer mesolophids; longer entoconid is reduced in size, smaller than any of the posterior cingula; anterior cingulum not as closely appressed to the metalophid). 146 PALUDICOLA, VOL. 6, NO. 4, 2008 TABLE 1. Dental and mandibular measurements of Leptodontomys anterior to the hypocone). In L. douglassi the metaloph douglassi from the Ridgeview fauna, Nebraska. is straight and the loph from the metacone joins the Abbreviations used: L, anteroposterior length; W, transverse width; N, number of specimens; M, mean; OR, observed hypocone at its center or slightly anterior to it. The range; S, standard deviation; CV, coefficient of variation. cups of the upper molars in L. douglassi appear slightly Measurements in mm. anteroposteriorly compressed (especially the lingual cusps) and those on the molars of Leptodontomys sp. N M OR S CV P4 L 15 0.81 0.73-0.88 0.05 6.07 are not compressed at all. W 15 0.91 0.81-0.96 0.05 5.62 It is likely that Leptodontomys sp. represents a M1 L 7 0.93 0.89-0.95 0.03 2.82 new species. However, it is not appropriate to name a W 7 1.03 0.97-1.08 0.04 3.61 new species at this time based on a single specimen. If M2 L 2 0.91 0.90-0.92 W 2 1.08 1.04-1.12 additional specimens, including lower dentitions, can M3 L 2 0.69 0.63-0.75 be referred to the same species as UNSM 26531, then it W 2 0.93 0.86-0.99 should be formally named. P4-M3 1 3.57 N M OR S CV Genus Pentabuneomys Engesser, 1990 P4 L 38 0.72 0.65-0.93 0.06 7.57 W 38 0.72 0.54-0.80 0.06 7.89 Type Species—Pentabuneomys rhodanicus M1 L 38 0.95 0.85-1.06 0.05 5.03 (Hugueney and Mein, 1968). W 36 0.85 0.77-0.93 0.05 5.36 Referred Species—P. engesseri n. sp. M2 L 31 0.89 0.73-1.02 0.06 6.64 W 31 0.88 0.80-0.99 0.05 5.86 Range—Early Miocene (early Orleanian, MN 3- M3 L 8 0.84 0.78-0.91 0.04 4.70 4a) of Switzerland and late Oligocene (early W 8 0.78 0.71-0.82 0.04 4.92 Arikareean) of Nebraska.