The Oligocene rodent record of Anatolia: a review

The succession of rodent faunas of Anatolia from the Eo/Oligecene to the Oligo/Miocene boundary interval is reviewed. Three faunistic phases are distinguished: (A) The Early Oligocene assemblage contains a balanced mainland fauna with genera of Iranian and central Asiatic provenance. Ctenodactylids and murids are dominant, glirids and sciurids are absent. (B) The ‘middle’ Oligocene assemblages contain impoverished endemic faunas suggesting insulation. Ctenodactylids and murids continue to be dominant, but are now represented by highly specialised local genera and species that have, at least potentially, their ancestry in the fauna of phase A. The presence of the first glirids in the phase B assemblages suggests fauna exchange with Europe, while the dipodids and aff. Sayimys show affinities with central Asia. Sciuridae are absent. (C) The Late Oligocene assemblages testify a complete turn-over in the Anatolian rodent fauna and the installment of a new balanced mainland fauna. The establishment of this community was initiated by the immigration (from Iran ?) of the murids Meteamys, Muhsinia, Cricetodon and Spanocricetodon who were soon joined by newcomers from Europe (Melissiodon, Paraglirululus, Glis and cf. Palaeosciurus) and from central Asia (Heterosminthus). The first record of the genus Enginia, a murid genus of unknown provenance (Iran?), is from this level also. The endemic Anatolian ctenodactylids and murids became extinct early during phase C, while the first record of ochotonid lagomorphs is from late during this phase.