THE LATE MIOCENE RODENTS FROM THE FISSURE FILLING OF CASTELNOU-1 (PYRENEES-ORIENTALES, FRANCE)

The fauna of rodents found in the karstic filling of Castelnou 1 has a Late Miocene age based on the association of the two murine species : Parapodemus barbarae and Huerzelerimys turoliensis. This association characterises the Spanish reference locality of Los Mansuetos. The fau na of Castelnou 1 rich of thirteen taxa, includes three new species he re described : Rhagapodemus primitivus nov. sp., Neocricetodon seseae nov. sp. and Atlantoxerus cuencae nov. sp. The fauna of Castelnou 1 gi ves evidence of the presence of two allochtonous species, Karnimata cf . intermedia and Cricetus sp. Contrary to previous interpretations, Rh agapodemus may be another example of species which has not a Western E uropean origin. The formely proposed correlation between the localitie s of Los Mansuetos in Spain and Ghazgay in Afghanistan, is supported b y the discovery of the Castelnou 1 fauna.