Dental Variation in the Endemic Dormouse Hypnomys Bate 1918 and its Implications for the Palaeogeographic Evolution of the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) during the late Neogene-Quaternary

Abstract

In this paper, a revision is carried out on the dental evolution of the endemic dormouse Hypnomys Bate, 1918 in the late Neogene-Quaternary of the Balearic Islands. In Mallorca, we have reviewed material (upper and lower first and second molars) coming from the localities of Cap Ferrutx, Pedrera de s’Ònix, Cova de Canet, Cova de Llenaire, Cova de son Bauçà, Cova de son Maiol and Cova de sa Bassa Blanca, ranging from the Pliocene to the Holocene. In Menorca, a revision is done of the species H. mahonensis and H. eliomyoides. It is concluded that, while H. eliomyoides corresponds to an endemic lineage from Menorca, H. mahonensis should be considered as a descendant of H. morpheus from Mallorca which probably entered Menorca during the late Pleistocene. Finally, the presence of Hypnomys in Eivissa is not confirmed, since a large lower first molar previously assigned to this genus in the locality of Cova de ca na Reia could belong to a new endemic form.