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 ...

瓦瑟鼠属（Vasseuromys）是一个物种多样性丰富的中小型睡鼠科（Gliridae）类群属，生存时代从渐新世最晚期延续至中新世晚期，分布于欧洲与西亚地区。尽管过去50年间已有大量化石发现，但针对瓦瑟鼠属的系统发育研究仍十分有限。本研究首次对该属开展涵盖所有已描述物种及一个产自东欧中新世晚期的新分类单元——Vasseuromys tectus sp. nov.的系统发育分析，首次揭示了该演化支内部的演化关系。分析结果显示该属明显为并系群。在"Vasseuromys"范围内识别出两个得到强烈支持的属级演化支：其一为限定性瓦瑟鼠属演化支，包含V. pannonicus、V. rugosus与V. tectus三个物种；其二为Glirulus演化支，包含曾被归入"Vasseuromys"的duplex种。其余曾被归入"Vasseuromys"的物种被证实为一系列并系类群，其中多系群"Ramys"嵌套于其中。Gliruloides属被正式归为同物异名……