Work

Revision of Dinosorex (Heterosoricidae, Eulipotyphla), with special reference to Slovak and Swiss material

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Dinosorex is an emblematic representative of the European Miocene small mammal community. Despite a relatively well-known fossil record, previous works pointed out the ambiguous definition of several species, accentuating the need for a taxonomic revision. The present work provides a comprehensive study of the highly specialised heterosoricid genus Dinosorex, including the description of well-preserved Slovak material from Devínska Nová Ves – Bonanza (MN6), Borský Svätý Jur (MN9), Studienka A (MN9), and Pezinok (MN10). The use of micro-computed tomography has shed light on the peculiarities of the basal Dinosorex zapfei, and material from numerous localities have been compared and restudied. As a result, we provide here an updated morphological comparison of all Dinosorex species and discuss the variability and resolving power of all morphological and morphometrical features used in the taxonomy of the genus. Our phylogenetic reconstruction confirms the strong role of geological basins in the evolutionary history of Dinosorex. The detailed study of European and Anatolian Dinosorex material led to the identification of a new species, Dinosorex kaelini sp. nov. from the Swiss locality of Nebelbergweg (MN9). The history of Dinosorex is driven by local evolution and dietary specialisation, which led to a trophic dead end in the earliest Turolian.

Source: Historical Biology

DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2476116

Authors: Florentin Cailleux, Lars W. van den Hoek Ostende, Panagiotis Skandalos, Peter Joniak

Institutions: Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Comenius University Bratislava

Language: English

Topic: Evolution and Paleontology Studies

Subfield: Paleontology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green