First Miocene rodent from Lebanon provides the 'missing link' between Asian and African gundis (Rodentia: Ctenodactylidae)

International audience5 Ctenodactylinae (gundis) is a clade of rodents that experienced, in Miocene time, their greatest diversification and widest distribution. They expanded from the Far East, their area of origin, to Africa, which they entered from what would become the Arabian Peninsula. Questions concerning the origin of African Ctenodactylinae persist essentially because of a poor fossil record from the Miocene of Afro-Arabia. However, recent excavations in the Late Miocene of Lebanon have yielded a key taxon for our understanding of these issues. Proafricanomys libanensis nov. gen. nov. sp. shares a variety of dental characters with both the most primitive and derived members of the subfamily. A cladistic analysis demonstrates that this species is the sister taxon to a clade encompassing all but one of the African ctenodactylines, plus a southern European species of obvious African extraction. As such, Proafricanomys provides the 'missing link' between the Asian and African gundis. The Ctenodactylinae is a subgroup of the Ctenodactylidae (Ctenohystrica) that likely appeared around the Oligocene-Miocene boundary. These unique animals have since experienced a remarkable evolution involving both a shift in habitats (from moist to arid) and distribution (from Asia to Africa). Our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within the clade has been recently much improve

New Species of Rotundomys (Cricetinae) from the Late Miocene of Spain and Its Bearing on the Phylogeny of Cricetulodon and Rotundomys

The material of Rotundomys (Rodentia, Cricetinae) from the Late Miocene fossiliferous complex of Cerro de los Batallones (Madrid, Spain) is described and compared with all species currently placed in the genera Rotundomys and Cricetulodon. Both the morphology and size variation encompassed in the collection of specimens from Batallones suggest they belong to a single taxon different from the other known species of these genera. A new species Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. is, therefore, named for it. A cladistic analysis, which is the first ever published concernig these taxa, has been conducted to clear up the phylogenetic position of the new species. Our results suggest that Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. inserts between R. mundi and R. sabatieri as a relatively primitive taxon inside the clade Rotundomys. The new taxon is more derived than R. mundi in having a transversal connection between the metalophulid and the anterolophulid on some m1 but more primitive than R. sabatieri and the most evolved species of Rotundomys (R. montisrotuni +R.bressanus) in its less developed lophodonty showing distinct cusps, shallower valleys, and the presence of a subdivided anteroloph on the M1. The species of Cricetulodon do not form a monophyletic group. As a member of Rotundomys, Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. is more derived than all of these taxa in its greater lophodonty and the complete loss of the anterior protolophule, mesolophs, and mesolophid.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)Universidad Complutense de MadridDepto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Causal evidence between monsoon and evolution of rhizomyine rodents

The modern Asian monsoonal systems are currently believed to have originated around the end of the Oligocene following a crucial step of uplift of the Tibetan-Himalayan highlands. Although monsoon possibly drove the evolution of many mammal lineages during the Neogene, no evidence thereof has been provided so far. We examined the evolutionary history of a clade of rodents, the Rhizomyinae, in conjunction with our current knowledge of monsoon fluctuations over time. The macroevolutionary dynamics of rhizomyines were analyzed within a well-constrained phylogenetic framework coupled with biogeographic and evolutionary rate studies. The evolutionary novelties developed by these rodents were surveyed in parallel with the fluctuations of the Indian monsoon so as to evaluate synchroneity and postulate causal relationships. We showed the existence of three drops in biodiversity during the evolution of rhizomyines, all of which reflected elevated extinction rates. Our results demonstrated linkage of monsoon variations with the evolution and biogeography of rhizomyines. Paradoxically, the evolution of rhizomyines was accelerated during the phases of weakening of the monsoons, not of strengthening, most probably because at those intervals forest habitats declined, which triggered extinction and progressive specialization toward a burrowing existence

Comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with personality disorders in homeless people.

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that begins in childhood but can continue into adulthood, and may be the cause of many disadaptive behaviors, as in the case of homeless people, who often display a high incidence of personality disorders. The goal of this study is to analyze the comorbidity of ADHD with axis II disorders in a Spanish homeless population. Results: The outcomes show high comorbidity between these two kinds of disorders, and that the prevalence of axis II disorders is higher among people with ADHD than among the general population. Conclusions: From these results we can draw the conclusion that in homeless people ADHD in childhood continues into adulthood, when it is very often observed together with personality disorders. Finally, the implications of this study both for clinical practice and for future lines of research are discussed

Expert range maps of global mammal distributions harmonised to three taxonomic authorities

AimComprehensive, global information on species' occurrences is an essential biodiversity variable and central to a range of applications in ecology, evolution, biogeography and conservation. Expert range maps often represent a species' only available distributional information and play an increasing role in conservation assessments and macroecology. We provide global range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species harmonised to the taxonomy of the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) mobilised from two sources, the Handbook of the Mammals of the World (HMW) and the Illustrated Checklist of the Mammals of the World (CMW).LocationGlobal.TaxonAll extant mammal species.MethodsRange maps were digitally interpreted, georeferenced, error-checked and subsequently taxonomically aligned between the HMW (6253 species), the CMW (6431 species) and the MDD taxonomies (6362 species).ResultsRange maps can be evaluated and visualised in an online map browser at Map of Life (mol.org) and accessed for individual or batch download for non-commercial use.Main conclusionExpert maps of species' global distributions are limited in their spatial detail and temporal specificity, but form a useful basis for broad-scale characterizations and model-based integration with other data. We provide georeferenced range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species as shapefiles, with species-level metadata and source information packaged together in geodatabase format. Across the three taxonomic sources our maps entail, there are 1784 taxonomic name differences compared to the maps currently available on the IUCN Red List website. The expert maps provided here are harmonised to the MDD taxonomic authority and linked to a community of online tools that will enable transparent future updates and version control

The vertebrate fauna from the “stipite” layers of the Grands Causses (Middle Jurassic, France)

The “stipites” are Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) coals that formed in an everglades-like environment and are now exposed in the Grands Causses (southern France). The vertebrate assemblage of the “stipites” and of the transitional layers to the carbonates in which they are interspersed are reviewed. To date, only small-sized and isolated vertebrate bones, teeth, and scales have been recovered. These record the presence of sharks (Hybodus, Asteracanthus), bony fishes (Lepidotes, Pycnodontiformes, Caturus, Aspidorhynchus), amphibians (Anura, Albanerpetontidae), and reptiles (Crocodylomorpha, Ornithischia, Theropoda). Despite its relatively limited taxonomic diversity, the vertebrate assemblage from the “stipites” and from their associated layers is notable for being one of the few of this age with both terrestrial and marine influences. Compared to other approximately coeval formations in Western Europe, the “stipites” vertebrate assemblage is surpassed in diversity only by those from the British Isles.This is a contribution to the research projects CGL2009–12143 and CGL2011-24829.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

First diatomyid rodent from the Early Miocene of Arabia

The Asian family Diatomyidae is known from the Early Oligocene to the present. Among living rodents, this group comprises only the recently discovered Laonastes aenigmamus from Laos. Fossil diatomyids are known from only a few sites, in which they are often rare. The discovery of Pierremus explorator gen. nov. sp. nov. in the Lower Miocene of As-Sarrar (Saudi Arabia) raises to ten the number of extinct diatomyid species recognized. Pierremus explorator is the first record of a diatomyid from the Afro- Arabian plate. This discovery provides evidence that, together with other rodents (ctenodactylids, zapodids…), the diatomyids took advantage of the corridor that was established between Afro-Arabia and Eurasia in Early Miocene times.The author is currently supported by the Ramón y Cajal Program and the research project CGL2008-05813-CO2-01 directed by J. Morales (Museo nacional de Ciencias naturales-CSIC, Madrid).Peer reviewe

Antemus CHINJIENSIS JACOBS 1977

ANTEMUS CHINJIENSIS JACOBS, 1977 This species was erected by Jacobs (1977) on the basis of four isolated cheek teeth (2M1, 1M 2, 1m 2). The holotype is a right M1 (YGSP 7649) from the Middle Miocene YGSP locality 41, Chinji Formation, Punjab, Pakistan (Jacobs, 1977). More specimens of this taxon have been also collected in Pakistan in the Chinji Formation at Middle Miocene YGSP localities 430 (close to locality 41) and 491 (near the village of Kamlial) (Jacobs et al., 1989), at locality PMNH 8608 (Dhok Tahlian area) (Cheema, Raza & Rajpar, 1996), and at locality H-GSP 107, near Banda Daud Shah (Wessels et al., 1982). The cheek teeth of this taxon are larger than those of Potwarmus flynni sp. nov., and their morphology is also very different. The M1 of Antemus chinjiensis shows the basic murine pattern of three chevrons. The first one is formed by the connection of three cusps (anterostyle, lingual and labial anterocones), the second one includes a large isolated enterostyle, and connected paracone and metacone, and the third one has two cusps (hypocone and metacone) with no trace of posterostyle. In contrast, AJ7 has a much smaller anterocone and enterostyle, the cusps are more alternate, and it lacks a well-developed anterostyle. The M2 of A. chinjiensis is also very different, having a labial anterocone, a very large enterostyle, and a metacone connected to the hypocone. In AJ7, the labial anterocone is lacking, the enterostyle is small, and the metacone joins with the posterior cingulum, but not with the hypocone. The m1 of A. chinjiensis is less reduced than AJ13, having a bilobed anteroconid separated by a deep furrow. Labial accessory cusps may be present in A. chinjiensis whereas they are absent in AJ13.Published as part of Antoñanzas, Raquel López, 2009, First Potwarmus from the Miocene of Saudi Arabia and the early phylogeny of murines (Rodentia: Muroidea), pp. 664-679 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (3) on page 672, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00494.x, http://zenodo.org/record/468775

Myocricetodon AFOUDENSIS

MYOCRICETODON AFOUDENSIS (BENAMMI, 2001) This species was erected on the basis of five upper molars and a single second lower molar (Benammi, 2001). The holotype of this species (AF6-47) is a right M1 from the Late Miocene site of Afoud 6, Aït Kandoula Formation, Aït Kandoula Basin, Morocco. This species was originally placed in the genus Myocricetodon, but it is uncertain how close a relative of the type-species of Myocricetodon, Myocricetodon cherifiensis, it is. The morphology of the teeth of ‘ Myocricetodon ’ afoudensis differs greatly from that of P. flynni sp. nov. The M1s of ‘ M. ’ afoudensis have a mesoloph, a new longitudinal crest, strongly alternating main cusps, and a large enterostyle that joins the protocone. AJ7 has a relict of a ‘normal’ longitudinal crest, the main cusps are slightly alternating, the enterostyle isolated, and lacks the mesoloph. The M2s of ‘ M. ’ afoudensis have a new longitudinal crest (absent on AJ11 and AJ12) and a large enterostyle connected to the protocone (smaller and isolated in the Arabian specimens).Published as part of Antoñanzas, Raquel López, 2009, First Potwarmus from the Miocene of Saudi Arabia and the early phylogeny of murines (Rodentia: Muroidea), pp. 664-679 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (3) on page 672, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00494.x, http://zenodo.org/record/468775

Dakkamys ' BARRYI LINDSAY 1988

‘ DAKKAMYS ’ BARRYI LINDSAY, 1988 This species was erected on the basis of one mandible, three maxillary fragments, and two isolated cheek teeth from the Middle Miocene localities YGSP 491 and YGSP 726 in the Chinji Formation, Potwar Plateau, Pakistan. The holotype (YGSP 24717) is a right fragmentary maxilla with M1–M3 from locality YGSP 726 (Lindsay, 1988: pl. 9, fig. f). The cladistic analysis (see below) suggests that the generic allocation of this species is unjustified: this taxon should receive a new generic designation. The M1s of ‘ Dakkamys ’ barryi have a very large enterostyle that joins with the posterior side of the protocone, and long anterior arms of the lingual cusps. In contrast, AJ7 shows an isolated and small enterostyle and lacks anterior arms of the protocone and hypocone. The M2s of ‘ D. ’ barryi differ from AJ11 and AJ 12 in having long anterior arms of lingual cusps (they are absent in the Arabian species). Finally, the m1 of ‘ D. ’ barryi shows a well-developed anteroconid, which is lacking on AJ13.Published as part of Antoñanzas, Raquel López, 2009, First Potwarmus from the Miocene of Saudi Arabia and the early phylogeny of murines (Rodentia: Muroidea), pp. 664-679 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (3) on page 671, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00494.x, http://zenodo.org/record/468775