Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 65. (Budapest 1973)
Jánossy, D.: New species of Episoriculus from the Middle Pliocene of Osztramos (North Hungary)
Episoriculus tornensis sp. n. Derivatio nominis: tornensis, named after the Carstic Territory with the Osztramos Hill in Torna. Type locality: Loc. 13, Osztramos Hill, NE Hungary (48° 30' North. Lat.: 38° 25' East Long.) Type level: Lower part of Middle Pliocene (or somewhat older). Holotype: Viscerocranium with full dentition, broken behind the pterygoids. Inventary number V. 72. 114, Collection of the Paleontological Department, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest. — Paratype: Left mandible with full dentition and processi, with only the proc. angularis lacking. Diagnosis: Small Episoriculus species with relatively reduced anterior dentition (including upper and lower incisors and antemolars) and chiefly with an extremely diminished last upper unicuspid. Description: Typical features of Episoriculus ELLERMAN et MORRISONSCOTT, 1951 (Soricidae GRAY 1821, Soricinae MURRAY 1866, Soriculini KRETZOI 1965) dental formula 1-5-3/1-2-3, upper incisor bifid. Fourth upper antemolar very small, as in recent species of the genus. P 4 with protocone placed close to parastyle, lower incisor short with a small undulation beyond the terminal cusp. Pigmentation reduced : merely top of unworn incisors, paracone of P 4 and protoconid of M\ orange-coloured. Condyles of mandible widely separated. (Other details see below). I had the possibility to compare my exemplars, among others, with the recent species Episoriculus caudatus and E. leucops as well as Soriculus nigrescens, all collected by G. TOPÁL in India. Ah these species possess a diminished last upper unicuspid and the variation of this tooth in size is not very large (the largest being at most twice that of the smallest). The last upper unicuspid of the type of "Soriculus kubinyii KORMOS" 1934 ("Crocidura gibberodon PETÉNYI" 1864) from VillányKalkberg is about three to five times larger than that of the specimen from Loc. 13, Osztramos. The same may be observed on well preserved skull and maxillary remains originating from Loc. 7, Osztramos, — also a typical S. gibberodon (see Plate I, Fig. 1-6; the sketch of the upper dentition of "8. kubinyii KORMOS" redrawn on the basis of the original type-specimen). Therefore the possibility of an individual variation is precluded and this feature must have an important evolutionary significance. The variation of this tooth in E. borsodensis sp. n. described below from Loc. 1. Osztramos, will be discussed in that place. The range of variation of the outer length of the upper incisor seems to differ only statistically from that of E. gibberodon, but absolutely from that of E. borsodensis sp. n. (1.80 mm in E. borsodensis sp. n. 1.48-1.72 mm [n=10]; in E. gibberodon 1.75-2.07 [n=10]). The three anterior upper unicuspids are in the occlusal view — agreeing with those of E. borsodensis — more quadratic and not so compressed antero-posteriorly as in E. gibberodon (see Plate I, Figs. I -4). Thus the length of the row of unicuspids, together with the diminished one is about the same with that of E. gibberodon and E. borsodensis (1.72 to 1.8 mm). Against E. gibberodon P 4 is reduced (outer length 1.15 mm in contrast with E. gibberodon showing 1.4-1.5 mm [n=3], and E. borsodensis with 1.27 mm). The ratio of the outer length of P^/M 1-!! 2 is quite different in the three forms : E. gibberodon 1.40/2.82; E. borsodensis sp. n. 1.27/2.55; E. tornensis sp. n. 1.15/2.65. M 3 of E. tornensis is more reduced than in E. gibberodon, and intermediate between these two species in E. borsodensis.
