Reports from the Mammalian Research Unit: 5. Fossil Suncus (Mammalia: Soricidae) from southern Africa

Abstract

Fossil Suncas have been described from Southern Africa by Meester (1955) and de Graaff (1960), neither of whom attempts to identify the species concerned, and by Davis and Meester (in prep.) who distinguish two species, S. infinitesimus and S. cf. varilla. In the light of the Southern African material previously reported upon, and new early Pleistocene specimens of Suncus which have become available from Sterkfontein and Swartkrans, Krugersdorp district, Transvaal, it is now possible to review the Southern African fossil forms of the genus.