Pappocricetodontinae (Rodentia, Muridae) from the Paleogene of south-east Serbia

Abstract

Two species of Witenia and a new pappocricetodontine genus and species from the late Eocene and early Oligocene of south-east Serbia are described. The Pappocricetodontinae a subfamily originally based on the small Pappocricetodon rencunensis from China has become a polyphyletic entity due to inclusion of the genus Witenia. The dental morphology of the late Eocene Witenia europea nov. sp. is very similar to that of the middle Eocene Pappocricetodon antiquus, but its molar enamel is more primitive. The small Bustrania dissimile nov. gen. nov. sp., the dominant species in the late Eocene locality of Buštranje, is defined and allocated to the Pappocricetodontinae.