Subclass Eutheria Higher classification Rodent | Phylum Chordata Scientific name Anomaluromorpha Rank Suborder | |
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Similar Castorimorpha, Anomalure, Rodent, Pedetidae, Mammal | ||
Anomaluromorpha is the name given to a clade that unites the anomalures with the springhares. It has alternately been designated as either a suborder or infraorder. Most recently, Carleton & Musser 2005 recognized it as one of five suborders of rodents.
Contents
Characteristics
The suborder Anomaluromorpha was erected to unite sciurognathous rodents with a hystricomorphous zygomasseteric system restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. Many authors have suggested that the two extant families may be only distantly related, and that they belong to separate suborders or infraorders. For example, the Pedetidae are the only family of rodents with multiserial enamel except for the Hystricognathi. This characteristic, the hystricomorphous zygomatic region, and a common distribution in southern continents has led many researchers to suggest that the springhares (but not anomalures) may be allied with hystricognaths. Montgelard et al. 2002 generated some support for Anomaluromorpha in a molecular phylogeny using 12S rRNA and cytochrome b.
Families
The suborder Anomaluromorpha contains nine living species in four genera and two families. An additional fossil family probably belongs to this group.
Potential relatives
The following fossil taxa are also sometimes placed in the Anomaluromorpha: