Early Late Miocene Murine Rodents from the Upper Part of the Nagri Formation, Siwalik Group, Pakistan, with a new fossil calibration point for the Tribe Apodemurini (Apodemus/Tokudaia)

Abstract

Abstract The early late Miocene is an interval of increased diversification for murine rodents. Whereas the genus Progonomys became widespread throughout Eurasia by 10 Ma, it appears from the known paleontological record that southern Asia is the arena of evolution and diversification at the base of the Murinae. The Siwalik fossil record of the Potwar Plateau in northern Pakistan preserves fossil evidence relevant to unraveling this history. Murine rodents are recorded there throughout the middle Miocene, and diversification began in Siwalik assemblages before 11 Ma. The well-established Progonomys and Karnimata lineages were already present between 11 and 10 Ma, and these represent extant murine crown groups. Here we document diversity in Siwalik murines dating to 10.5 to 10.1 Ma, and clarify their recognition by naming a new species of Karnimata and referring specimens of Progonomys from this interval to P. hussaini. In addition, we define at least two other uncommon murine species that coexist with them. One of these is an early record of Parapodemus, a fossil genus of Tribe Apodemurini, which constitutes a calibration point for the Apodemus/Tokudaia split. Together, these fossil taxa provide further evidence bearing on the major split among murines leading to the clades Murini and Arvicanthini.