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The Eastern Beringian vole Microtus deceitensis (Rodentia, Muridae, Arvicolinae) in Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene faunas of Alaska and Yukon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

John E. Storer*
Affiliation:
Cultural Services Branch, Department of Business, Tourism and Culture, Yukon Government, Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6, Canada
*
*Fax: +867-667-8007. E-mail address:[email protected] (J.E. Storer).

Abstract

The fossil vole Microtus deceitensis occurs in Early Pleistocene deposits at Fort Selkirk, Yukon Territory, and Late Pliocene beds at the type locality, Cape Deceit, Alaska. Analyses of simple vs complex morphotypes in the cheek teeth, and of differentiation of tooth enamel, show that the Cape Deceit sample of M. deceitensis is less derived, and thus appears to be older, than the Fort Selkirk sample. The fossiliferous deposits at Fort Selkirk are well constrained by fission-track and radiometric dates and are 1.5 to 1.7 myr. Sediments at Cape Deceit bear a normal magnetic polarity, are correlated with the Olduvai subchron, and probably are latest Pliocene.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
University of Washington

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