Brachyuromys ramirohitra Major, 1896

Denys, Christiane, Gabriel, Nadine W., Lalis, Aude & Jenkins, Paulina, 2024, Subfossil rodents and tenrecs of Children’s Cave, Madagascar, Journal of Natural History 58 (25 - 28), pp. 796-839 : 801-802

Brachyuromys ramirohitra Major, 1896

This species can be diagnosed by its long molar row and wide M1. The crown is higher and the link between lophs appears only in very worn specimens. The three lophs of M1–2 are very oblique. The m3 is long and narrow.

Attributed material: Lower Stratum: 1 skull fragment and 2 left mandibles; see Appendix.

These specimens are at a relatively advanced stage of wear and are comparatively large for the species. On the M1 one can see three oblique lophs and a slight trace of a longitudinal link between the first and second lophs ( Figure 2 ). On the lower molars the lophs are also very oblique and there is only a slight trace of the longitudinal link between the second and third lophs of m1. The molar row length and width of M1 fits well with modern specimens ( Figure 3 , Table 1 ).

Figures

Figure 2. Rodent dental material of Brachyuromys ramirohitra from Children’s Cave. A: Upper maxillary NHMUK PV M 105613 with right M1–M2 and left M1–M3, B: Left mandible NHMUK PV M 105615 with m1–m3.

Figure 3. Scatter diagram of modern Brachyuromys spp. with Children’s Cave, Antsirabe and Lavajaza specimens. Top: LS13: length of the upper molar row, WM1: width of M1. Bottom: abscissa: length of the mandible (LMDB), ordinate: L13: length of the lower molar row. Measurements in mm.