First record of Sorex (Drepanosorex) margaritodon (Mammalia, Soricidae) in Western Europe: biostratigraphy, biogeography and evolution of the species

Abstract

The taxonomy of the extinct European subgenus Drepanosorex (Mammalia, Soricidae) has traditionally been problematic, but it seems to comprise five valid species from the Pleistocene: Sorex (Drepanosorex) praearaneus, S. (D.) savini, S. (D.) margaritodon, S. (D.) austriacus and S. (D.) rupestris. The first record of Sorex (Drepanosorex) margaritodon in Western Europe comes from the Lower Red Unit (levels TE7–14) of Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain), which is dated to ca. 1.1–1.5 Ma. Detailed morphological comparisons and morphometric analyses have allowed us to assign the items from Sima del Elefante indisputably to this taxon. Sorex (D.) margaritodon is now firmly dated to the Early Pleistocene of Central Europe and the north of the Iberian Peninsula, which makes it a very useful biochronological tool in the continental context. Sorex (D.) margaritodon and S. (D.) savini could have evolved in Central Europe from the more primitive S. (D.) praearaneus, which could also be the potential ancestor of the Caucasian Sorex (D.) rupestris. Sorex (D.) margaritodon, the Drepanosorex species with the westernmost distribution in Europe, may be regarded as the most probable ancestor of S. (D.) austriacus.