Elsevier Masson, Geobios, 2-3(44), p. 299-307
DOI: 10.1016/j.geobios.2010.11.007
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A new Miocene shrew from east Central Spain is described. The new form, named Turiasorex pierremeini nov. gen., nov. sp., was found in 13- 10–Ma old sediments of the Calatayud-Daroca and Teruel basins. It is characterized by an extreme dental morphology consisting of elements with low length-width ratios, implying a relatively short snout. Such an adaptation could point to a hypogeal life style – using burrows made by other mammals – with a non-standard shrew diet consisting not only of insects, but also of earthworms and possibly small vertebrates such as lizards.