A new genus of eomyid rodent from the Miocene of Nevada

The description of a new genus (Apeomyoides) of eomyid rodent from the Miocene of Nevada increases the diversity of known taxa, enhances the geographic range, and extends the biochronology for the Apeomyinae (Eomyidae). Three groups of Eomyidae are known from the fossil record of North America. Of the three groups, Neogene taxa include four genera representing the Eomyinae and two genera representing the Apeomyinae; no genera of the subfamily Yoderimyinae are known from the Neogene of the continent. This diversity represents a significant reduction of eomyid taxa compared to the Paleogene, from which 17 genera of eomyines and three genera of yoderimyines are known. In Eurasia, 11 genera of eomyids occurred during the Neogene, with a few taxa that persisted until about 2 million years before present. At present, there are no known eomyids from the last 4.5 million years of the Neogene in North America. Apeomyoides savagei is referable to the subfamily Apeomyinae based on several key structures of the teeth and mandible. This new eomyid is part of the Eastgate local fauna, collected from volcanic ash deposits of the Monarch Mill Formation, Churchill County, Nevada. Apeomyoides has an occlusal pattern that shares characteristics of apeomyines from both North America (Megapeomys and Arikareeomys) and Eurasia (Apeomys and Megapeomys). The unique occlusal pattern and large size of Apeomyoides demonstrates that not all eomyids from North America were small or that their lineages decreased in size through time. Apeomyoides also may provide evidence, which challenges the hypothesis that eomyids within a single lineage from North America became more lophodont in geologically younger genera

Historical processes enhance patterns of diversity along latitudinal gradients

One of the more vexing issues in ecology is how historical processes affect contemporary patterns of biodiversity. Accordingly, few models have been presented. Two corollary models (centre of origin, time-for-speciation) can be used to make quantitative predictions characterizing the tropical niche conservatism hypothesis and describe diversification as diffusion and subsequent cladogenesis of species away from the place of origin of a higher taxon in the tropics. Predictions derived from such models are: (i) species richness declines toward the periphery of the range of a higher taxon; (ii) taxa are more derived toward the periphery than the centre; (iii) ages of taxa are lower toward the periphery than the centre; and (iv) ages and measures of derivedness are less variable toward the periphery of the range of a higher taxon. I tested these predictions to better understand the formation of one of the most ubiquitous patterns of biodiversity—the latitudinal gradient in species richness. Results indicate well-supported predictions for New World leaf-nosed bats and that diversification has had strong influences on latitudinal gradients of species richness. A better understanding of how evolutionary diversification of taxa contributes to formation of patterns of species richness along environmental gradients is necessary to fully understand spatial variation in biodiversity

North American Glyptodontines (Xenarthra, Mammalia) in the Upper Pleistocene of northern South America

The Glyptodontidae is one of the most conspicuous groups in the Pleistocene megafauna of the Americas. The Glyptodontinae were involved in the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) and their earliest records in North America are about 3.9 Ma, suggesting an earlier formation of the Panamanian landbridge. Taxonomically it is possible to recognize two Pleistocene genera of Glyptodontinae:Glyptodon (ca. 1.8 – 0.008 Ma), restricted to South America, andGlyptotherium (ca. 2.6 – 0.009 Ma), including records in both North and Central America. Here we present the first report of the genusGlyptotherium in South America, from the Late Pleistocene of several fossil localities in Falcón State, northwestern Venezuela. A comparative analysis of the material, represented by cranial and postcranial parts, including the dorsal carapace and caudal rings, suggests a close affinity withGlyptotherium cylindricum (Late Pleistocene of Central Mexico). This occurrence in the latest Pleistocene of the northernmost region of South America Supports the bidirectional faunal migration during the GABI and the repeated re-immigration from North America of South American clades, as has been reported in other members of the Cingulata (e.g., Pampatheriidae)