A new species of the extinct vole Villanyia from Renzidong Cave, Anhui, East China, with discussion on related species from China and Transbaikalia

A new species of extinct vole with rooted cementless molars is described on the basis of abundant remains from the Early Pleistocene (=Late Pliocene) sediments of Renzidong Cave. Among the extinct cementless voles, distinction between Villanyia and Borsodia is recommended to determine the generic allocation of the new species. The comparison of diagnostic characters of these two genera obtained by this study indicates that the new species belongs to Villanyia, and the species is named as V. fanchangensis. The provided revision of the Chinese and Transbaikalian species of Villanyia and Borsodia has revealed that the species of Villanyia were distributed in southern China during the Late Pliocene, and in Transbaikalia during the Middle Pliocene. In China, Villanyia was replaced by Borsodia in the earliest Pleistocene, while in Transbaikalia it was replaced by Borsodia in the Late Pliocene.