Early Pliocene Arvicolinae and Cricetinae from the locality of Afşar, western Turkey

Abstract

The Afşar section, situated in the Dombayova graben in western Turkey, is one of the key localities for the study of the Pliocene of Anatolia. Two fossiliferous layers yielded micromammal assemblages, including various cricetine and arvicoline species. These include the species Mimomys cf. gracilis, Pliomys sp., Arvicolinae gen. sp. and the cricetines Cricetulus cf. ehiki and Cricetulus sp. in Afşar 1 and Mimomys hassiacus, M. gracilis, Pliomys graecus and Mesocricetus primitivus in Afşar 2. The cooccurence of these species indicates a dry and open spaced habitat. Based on the composition and stage of evolution of the hamster and vole species, Afşar 1 assemblage can be referred to MN 15 or early MN 16 with Afşar 2 being assigned to early MN 16.