Cephalomyidae

Cephalomyidae
Temporal range: Late Oligocene-Early Miocene (Deseadan-Colhuehuapian)
~21.0–17.5 Ma
↓
Mandible of Cephalomys arcidens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Infraorder: Hystricognathi
Parvorder: Caviomorpha
Superfamily: Cavioidea
Family: †Cephalomyidae
Ameghino 1897
Genera

Cephalomyidae is an extinct family of caviomorph rodents from South America. The specific relationships of the family are uncertain, and affinities to both chinchilloid and cavioid rodents have been supported. Most recently, Kramarz in 2005 performed a phylogenetic analysis supporting a relationship to the Cavioidea, as represented by Eocardiidae, although more recent analyses have placed them among the chinchilloids as relatives of the giant neoepiblemid rodents.[2] McKenna and Bell (1997) questioned the validity of the family, placing the cephalomyid genera then known in Dasyproctidae, but Kramarz (2001) subsequently reasserted the distinctiveness of cephalomyids.

Fossils of the family have been found in Deseadan to Colhuehuapian Fray Bentos, Deseado, Cerro Bandera and Sarmiento Formations and the Colhué Huapí Member of Argentina and the Puca Group of Bolivia.[3]

  1. ^ Kramarz, Alejandro Gustavo (2005). "A primitive cephalomyid hystricognath rodent from the early Miocene of northern Patagonia, Argentina". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 50 (2): 249–258.
  2. ^ Rasia, L.L.; Candela, A.M.; Cañón, C. (March 2021). "Comprehensive total evidence phylogeny of chinchillids (Rodentia, Caviomorpha): Cheek teeth anatomy and evolution". Journal of Anatomy. 239 (2): 405–423. doi:10.1111/joa.13430. PMC 8273581. PMID 33721329.
  3. ^ Cephalomyidae at Fossilworks.org