New Cricetodontini from the middle Miocene of Europe: An example of mosaic evolution

摘要: A new species of Cricetodontini (Cricetidae, Rodentia, Mammalia), Cricetodon nievei sp. nov. from the Toril section (Toril 3A, 3B, 2) and Las Planas 5H is described. All this sites belong to local biozone G3 (late Aragonian, late middle Miocene) Calatayud-Daroca Basin (Zaragoza, Spain). The displays a mosaic pattern consisting in combination primitive derived characters: upper molars have basal Cricetodon-like –short not complete ectolophs –, whereas lower share several features with older representatives Hispanomys – absence metalophulid II. generic assignation taxon further discussed it compared all described until date. This evolutionary dental characters also recognized other Europe during although involving different morphological characters. At time, diversity tribe increases, including complex morphology higher intraspecific variability than representatives. proposed here morphologically close recorded outside Basin, especially C. albanensis H. decedens France. Finally, palaeoecological context discussed; stratigraphical distribution coevals changes faunal assemblages which are possibly related an increase humidity detected Basin.