Early Pliocene Arvicolinae and CriÇetinae from the locality of Af?ar, western Turkey

Abstract

The Afsar 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 criÇetine and arvicoline species. These include the species Mimomys cf. gracilis, Pliomys sp., Arvicolinae gen. sp. and the criÇetines Cricetulus cf. ehiki and Cricetulus sp. in Afsar 1 and Mimomys hassiacus, M. gracilis, Pliomys graecus and Mesocricetus primitivus in Afsar 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, Afsar 1 assemblage can be referred to MN 15 or early MN 16 with Afsar 2 being assigned to early MN 16.