Gliridae (Rodentia) from the Villafranchian site of Węże 2 in southern Poland

Abstract

A fossil assemblage of dormice (Rodentia: Gliridae) was uncovered at the (Lower?) Villafranchian site of Węże 2 in southern Poland. Based on morphometric criteria, the diagnostic M1 and m1 specimens are assignable to Glis minor and Glis sackdillingensis, two species which differ only in the dimensions of their cheek teeth. The presence of dormice at Węże 2 implies that the fossil assemblage of this site represents an at least partly wooded environment. The enamel structure in the glirids from Węże 2 is formed predominantly by radial enamel. A thin layer of lamellar enamel, occurring close to the enamel-dentine junction, may be present. Such a type of enamel structure is typical of the Myomorpha, the clade of rodents encompassing the Muroidea (the mouse-like rodents) and Gliridae.