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

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