RODENTS OF THE MIDDLE EOCENE SHINZHALY FAUNA OF EASTERN KAZAKHSTAN

Fossil mammals of the Skinzhaly fauna occur in the Kolpak Formation. a sequence of Paleogene red beds exposed along the Shinzhaly River in E astern Kazakstan. Most of the fossils are concentrated in a single bed 0.3 m thick. Screen washing of sediment from this bed has yielded sma ll mammals, including several species of rodents: a zapodid, Akysiromy s dalos; two cricetids, Pappocricetodon kazakstanicus, sp. nov. and Zh umgaromys gromovi, gen. et sp. nov.; and a chapartimyid, Saykanomys sp ., cf. S. bohlini. Temporal correlation indicated by the rodents is in agreement with the middle Eocene (Irdinmanhan) age indicated by peris sodactyls previously described from the Shimzhaly fauna.