New dormice records (Rodentia: Gliridae) from the Late Miocene of the Republic of Moldova

The Gliridae from three Late Miocene localities of the Republic of Moldova – Chimishliya (age MN12), Gura Galbene (MN12), and Gradishte (MN11/12) are described and their taxonomic position discussed: two are assigned to Myomimus, one each to Vasseuromys, Muscardinus and Gliridae gen. and sp. indet. The most abundant fossil remains were found in Chimishliya (nine teeth) and the most taxonomic diversity was observed in Gura Galbene (Myomimus dehmi/maritsensis, Myomimus sp., Muscardinus and Gliridae gen. and sp. indet). Discovery of the specimen of Muscardinus from Moldova fills the stratigraphic gap of genus occurrence between MN11 and MN14 in Europe. Scarcity of fossil remains does not allow for reconstruction of the transformations of the dormice fauna, though presence of particular genera is indicative of specific palaeoenvironment conditions in the Late Miocene of Moldova.