First discovery of Promimomys (Arvicolidae) in East Asia
First discovery of Promimomys （Arvicolidae） in East Asia

Promimomys asiaticus sp. nov., the first known species of the genus in East Asia, is described. The material was collected from the early Pliocene cave deposit in Daju- shan Hill, Huainan, Anhui Province. Promimomys was first found in Europe and considered as the ancestor of the family Arvicolidae. The new species from China is distinct from the type species, P. cor, and other known species in its thicker enamel of uniform thickness, simple anterior loop of m1, and blunt, salient angles. It is more primitive than other known species in Europe and North America and also more primi- tive than Mimomys bilikeensis of early Pliocene of Inner Mongolia. It is thus the earliest and the most primitive arvi- colid rodent known. The discovery of Promimomys asiaticus sp. nov. is significant to the study on the origin and the phy- logeny of arvicolids, and to the discussion of the interconti- nental dispersal events of arvicolids.