Apulogalerix pusillus nov. gen., nov. sp., the small-sized Galericinae(Erinaceidae, Mammalia) from the ‘‘Terre Rosse’’ fissure filling ofthe Gargano (Foggia, South-Eastern Italy)

A small moonrat belonging to the Galericini tribe occurs in all the assemblages from the Terre Rossefissure fillings of the Gargano. It was first mentioned in the pioneering report of Freudenthal and byButler in his study of the ‘‘gigantic’’ Deinogalerix, and has been quoted with different names several timesin faunal lists of the Terre Rosse endemic faunas. Up to date, however, the description of this gymnurehas never been achieved. We present here the taxonomical and morphological description of a samplefrom Fissure Filling F32 that is considered to document the youngest phase of population of the GarganoPaleoarchipelago. The comparisons with genera Galerix, Parasorex and Schizogalerix, show that theGargano gymnure is well distinct from these three genera, and that it deserves a generic status. The smallGalericini is therefore referred to Apulogalerix pusillus nov. gen., nov. sp. The enlarged and swollenpremolar series, the small, pointed molars, some details in the morphology of the lower fourth premolarand of the third upper premolar, indicate that Apulogalerix nov. gen. is an endemic taxon, likely derivedfrom a Parasorex ancestor, which specialized in a malacophagous diet.