Sciuridae (Mammalia, Rodentia) from Tuchořice and Merkur-North
Abstract
Fossil squirrels were studied on the localities Dolnice, Františkovy Lázně, Ořechov, Mutěnice, Děvínská Nová Ves. The biostratigraphical position of fauna from these localities was determined to be within the range of MN4, MN5, MN6, MN9. The fauna from Tuchořice and Merkur-North is older. Its biostratigraphical position was determined by O. Fejfar as early Lower Miocene (Lower Orleanian) - MN3b (Tuchořice) and MN3a (Merkur-North - the opencast mine). The assemblages from this localities contain material of giant tree squirrel Ratufa obtusidens?, a several genera of ground squirrels: Spermophilinus, Palaeosciurus, Sciurus, Heteroxerus and three genera of flying squirrels (Petauristinae): Blackia (B. miocaenica Mein, 1970), Hylopetes (H. macedoniensis Bouwens & de Bruijn, 1986 or H. hoeckarum de Bruijn, 1998) and Miopetaurista aff. Dehmi.