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Aeretes melanopterus (Pteromyinae, Rodentia) from Tianyuan Cave near Zhoukoudian (Choukoutien) in China

2007; Elsevier BV; Volume: 40; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.geobios.2006.04.006

1777-5728

Haowen Tong,

Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

The materials of Aeretes inelanopterus from the Tianyuan Cave, a Late Pleistocene site with human fossils recovered recently near Zhoukoudian, are the richest of this species ever reported in North China. Aeretes melanopterus is an endemic species of China, its relationship with Petaurista and Trogopterus is still controversal. Studies based on the dental characters show that Aeretes melanopterus resembles Petaurista more closely than Trogopterus. The earliest fossil record of Aeretes inelanopterus was found in South China in Middle Pleistocene deposits. The earliest records in the Beijing area are from Upper Cave and Tianyuan Cave at Zhoukoudian are of late-Late Pleistocene age, around 30 kyrs BP. The geographical distributions of this species are very limited. In evolution, Aeretes melanopterus experienced both the increase and the decrease in tooth size; but its crown height of cheek teeth was continuously increasing. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.