A diverse rodent fauna from the middle Bartonian (Eocene) of Les Alleveys,Switzerland: snapshot of the early theridomyid radiation

A fossiliferous fissure filling at Les Alleveys, Mormont (Canton de Vaud, Switzerland), sampled in 1986 and representing part of the same fissure system as that excavated by Chavannes and Morlot in 1852, contains an Eocene mammal fauna of 27 species-group taxa, dominated by micromammals. Unlike the 1852 collection, thanks to screenwashing techniques, there is an abundance of rodents, especially theridomyids, which provide new information on the early radiation of the family. The homogeneity of the new assemblage suggests that the Les Alleveys fauna is entirely Bartonian in age and not as previously thought mixed with Priabonian elements. Bartonian faunas rich in a diversity of micromammals are relatively uncommon in Europe outside the Quercy region of France and this is the first such fauna from Mormont and from Switzerland. The rodents are here treated systematically and a new species of Elfomys, E. engesseri sp. nov. is described. A few teeth of an undescribed species tentatively referred to ‘Protadelomys’ provide an archaic element, whereas a single milk premolar of Patriotheridomys? suggests a considerable range for the genus prior to the middle Priabonian. The Les Alleveys theridomyids, together with a range of other early family members are analysed cladistically. The analysis confirms both the distinctness of the subfamily Remyinae and that the genus Estellomys is a primitive theridomyine; it shows Paradelomys to be a primitive member of the Columbomyinae, but finds no dental synapomorphies to support the Issiodoromyinae as represented by Elfomys and Pseudoltinomys.