What is it about?

Fossil squirrel remains, between 11 and 5 million years old, are found in Anatolia (Turkey). In nine different localities a total of at least twelve different species are recorded: seven ground squirrels belonging to Tamias and Spermophilinus, three flying squirrels belonging to Hylopetes and Pliopetaurista. We named one new species: Tamias anatoliensis . Also a few fossils from the tree squirrel Sciurus were found, it is probably the oldest occurrence of this species in western Eurasia. The majority of these late Miocene squirrels from Anatolia show affinities with European sciurids of the same period.

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Why is it important?

This study enlarges our knowledge about the diversity of life during this late Miocene period.

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This page is a summary of: Late Miocene Sciuridae (Mammalia, Rodentia) from Anatolia, Turkey, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, July 2013, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2013.755990.
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