Data from: Systematics and phylogeny of Vasseuromys (Mammalia, Rodentia, Gliridae) with a description of a new species from the late Miocene of eastern Europe

Vasseuromys is a species‐rich genus of small‐ to medium‐sized glirids
spanning the latest Oligocene to late Miocene of Europe and western Asia.
Despite extensive discoveries over the past 50 years, little phylogenetic
work has been done on Vasseuromys. This study presents the first
phylogenetic analysis of the genus that includes all the described species
and a new taxon Vasseuromys tectus sp. nov. from the late Miocene of
eastern Europe, providing the first insights into the evolutionary
relationships within the clade. Results suggest that the genus is clearly
paraphyletic. Two strongly supported genus‐level clades are recognized
within ‘Vasseuromys’: a restricted Vasseuromys clade (containing the three
species, V. pannonicus, V. rugosus and V. tectus) and the Glirulus clade
that includes ‘Vasseuromys’ duplex. The remaining ‘Vasseuromys’ species
are found to constitute a set of paraphyletic taxa, with the polyphyletic
‘Ramys’ nested within it. The genus Gliruloides is synonymized with
Glirulus. Vasseuromys tectus sp. nov. is the most derived member of the
genus in having a greater number of cheek teeth ridges including
constantly present anterotrope, centrotrope, second prototrope on M1–2,
third metatrope on M2, two to three posterotropids on p4 and strong
ectolophids on lower molars. The results of the study confirm a European
origin for Vasseuromys while suggesting that the late Miocene species of
the genus dispersed from the east in the early Turolian.