Abstract
A new species of fossil Mus (Rodentia, Mammalia) is reported from the Late Pleistocene fluvio-lacustrine deposits of the Kumaun sector of Indian Himalaya. The fossiliferous horizon, medium-coarse grained sand lenses embedded in the massive carbonaceous mud, is exposed at locality Dulam and is Late Pleistocene (ca. 30 ka) in age. A new species, Mus dulamensis n. sp., is proposed. Characterized by strongly distorted and moderately elongated M 1 (about 170% of M 2 length) with prominent conules in front of the t 2, higher magnitude of stephanodonty (between the t 1 and t 4 and between the t 3 and t 6), moderately reduced M 3 (about 56% of M 2 length) and stronger connection between the cusps, this species is distinct from all other species of the genus and is included in the “ booduga group”. I suggest that M. dulamensis n. sp. is comparatively more derived than M. auctor, M. flynni, M. jacobsi and Mus sp. and it may have given rise to M. booduga or M. dunni. It is further suggested that presently living M. booduga and M. dunni are more specialized than Mus dulamensis n. sp.
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