Additions of the Geiseltal mammalian faunas, Middle Eocene: Didelphidae, Nyctitheriidae, Myrmecophagidae.

Gerhard Storch and Hartmut Haubold

Cite this article: Storch G., Haubold H., 1989. Additions of the Geiseltal mammalian faunas, Middle Eocene: Didelphidae, Nyctitheriidae, Myrmecophagidae. Palaeovertebrata 19 (3): 95-114.

Abstract

New and hitherto unpublished mammals from the stratigraphical levels Unterkohle, Untere Mittelkohle and Obere Mittelkohle of the Geiseltal near Halle, GDR, are described (= biochronological levels MP 11-13, Geiseltalian sensu Franzen & Haubold 1986a, b). The marsupial taxa Amphiperatherium aff. maximum (MP 12), A. goethei (MP 12), and Peratherium aff. monspeliense (MP 12 and 13) are recorded for the first time. A lectotype for Amphiperatherium giselense is designated, and the alleged primate Microtarsioides voigzi is assigned to Marsupialia, incertae sedis. A new insectivore species, Saturninia ceciliensis n. sp., is described (MP 13). The anteater Eurotamandua joresi is recorded for the first time outside its type locality, Grube Messel, FRG (MP 11). The present humerus and ulna display the autapomorphic features of the myrmecophagids.