HOME --> CLASS MAMMALIA
--> ORDER RODENTIA
--> SUBORDER SCIUROMORPHA
--> FAMILY Gliridae
--> SUBFAMILY Leithiinae
GENUS Muscardinus
Author: | Kaup, 1829. | Citation: | Skizz. Entwikel.-Gesch. Nat. Syst. Europ. Thierwelt, 1: 139. | Type Species: | Mus avellanarius Linnaeus, 1758. | Comments: | Kratochvil (1973) proposed to place Muscardinus in its own subfamily, Muscardininae, based on the uniquely derived stomach anatomy, molar morphology, and phallic features. De Bruijn (1967) and Daams (1981) both included Muscardinus in the Glirinae based on dental morphology. This arrangement was supported by the results of Wahlert et al. (1993). However, phylogenetic analyses of nuclear DNA fragments and mitochondrial 12S rRNA sequences clearly identified Muscardinus as a member of Leithiinae and basal to Myomimus, and the clade comprised of Dromys, and Eliomys. See also comments under Leithiinae. Comparative vocalization data reviewed by Hutterer and Peters (2001). Evolutionary patterns of dental morphology during Pliocene and Pleistocene discussed by Nadachowski and Daoud (1995). For synonyms see Daams and de Bruijn (1995); Rossolimo et al. (2001). |
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| Offspring: SPECIES avellanarius | Synonyms:
Eomuscardinus Hartenberger, 1966 Pentaglis Kretzoi, 1943
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