Rodents, lagomorphs and insectivores

In the context of the present monograph on the late Miocene vertebrate locality of Küçükçekmece, this paper aims to provide a detailed analysis of rodent, lagomorph and insectivore remains. The Küçükçekmece fauna includes three species of rodents (Byzantinia bayraktepensis Ünay, 1980, Spalacidae indet. and Chalicomys jaegeri Kaup, 1832), one lagomorph (Ochotona ozansoyi Sen, 2003) and two insectivores (Schizogalerix sp. and Crusafontina cf. endemica Gibert, 1975). This assemblage is far from reflecting the complete spectrum of these groups in the community of the region. Several common late Miocene taxa are not represented in the material, which was collected by hand picking on the outcrops, not by screen washing of sediment. Among the species recovered, B. bayraktepensis and O. ozansoyi are known elsewhere in latest Astaracian (MN8) and early Vallesian (MN9) localities. The other taxa found at Küçükçekmece are common elements of European Vallesian faunas. Abundance of the beaver C. jaegeri suggests freshwater environment, while the insectivores of this locality indicate rather moist forests and subtropical climatic conditions.