Publication: The Skull of Stephanomys and a Review of Malpaisomys
Relationships (Rodentia: Muridae): Taxonomic Incongruente in Murids
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1998
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Springer Verlag
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Abstract
The cranial morphology of the extinct murid genus Stephanomys, previously known only by
dental remains, is described here on the basis of partial skulls of three species of Pliocene age.
Important cranial charactets of the genus ate a robust rostmm, a high zygoma, a wide zygomatic
arch, a narrow interorbit, a large orbit, and an optic foramen in the backward position. In
addition to some dental characters, Stephanomys shares most of these cranial traits with the
extinct Malpaisomys from the Canary Islands. Some of these traits may be linked to the development
of large eyes and life in a rocky environment. The peculiar dental pattem of Stephanomys
(stephanodonty) is also present in some recent murids (Oenomys and Thamnomys) having
a different skull morphology. A comparison with nine other extant genera of murids verified
the relationship among Malpaisomys, Stephanomys, and Acomys, supporting our pmvious conclusion.
Phenetic and cladistic analyses of 17 cranial and 23 dental characters show that skull
morphology is phylogenetically informative but highly convergent and incongtuent with other
partial evidente based on dental and biochemical characters. The combined analyses of skull
and teeth illustrate a case of mosaic evolution in murids.