Microgale macpheei

Microgale macpheei is an extinct shrew tenrec from southeastern Madagascar. It is known only from two partial skulls found in Andrahomana cave, which radiocarbon dating of associated rodent remains suggests are about 3000 years old. It is the only known recently extinct tenrec. First described in 2007, it is most similar to the smaller "Microgale brevicaudata" of northern and western Madagascar. "M. macpheei" has a broad rostrum (front part of the skull) and, like "M. brevicaudata", lacks a diastema (gap) between the premolars. A number of details of tooth morphology are characteristic of "M. macpheei".
Taxonomy.
Remains of shrew tenrecs ("Microgale") were found during expeditions to the cave of Andrahomana in southeastern Madagascar, led by David Burney in 2000 and 2003. The "Microgale" material was described as a new species, "M. macpheei", in 2007 by Steven Goodman, Natalie Vasey, and Burney. The species was named after Ross MacPhee in honor of his contributions to knowledge of the genus "Microgale" and the paleontology of Madagascar. Goodman and colleagues considered the living "Microgale brevicaudata" from northern and western Madagascar to be the closest relative of "M. macpheei"; some populations of this tenrec have since been separated into a different species, "M. grandidieri". The common name "MacPhee's shrew tenrec" has been proposed for "M. macpheei". The genus of "M. macpheei", "Microgale", includes more than 20 species and is the largest of the tenrec family, which includes a variety of other Madagascan mammals.
Description.
"Microgale macpheei" is known from two specimens: a damaged cranium (skull without mandibles, or lower jaws) lacking the back part (the parietal bones and further back) as well as the incisors, canines, and second premolars; and another damaged cranium lacking the same parts as well as the left toothrow. Both show no evidence of ongoing tooth replacement, indicating that the permanent dentition is complete. "M. macpheei" was larger in most measurements than "M. brevicaudata", but because of small samples, some differences are not statistically significant. The length of the bony palate in the two specimens of "M. macpheei" is 9.4 and 9.7 mm, compared to 7.1 to 9.0 mm in eight adult "M. brevicaudata". In both specimens, the length of the molar row is 3.0 mm, compared to 2.4 to 2.8 mm in the sample of "M. brevicaudata".
The rostrum (front part of the skull) is short and blunt in both "M. macpheei" and "M. brevicaudata", contrasting with the condition in other "Microgale", but the rostrum of "M. brevicaudata" is distinctly more tapered at the front, whereas that of "M. macpheei" is more blunt at the front. Unlike other "Microgale", "M. brevicaudata" and "M. macpheei" lack gaps (diastemata) between the premolars. "M. macpheei" had larger, more robust teeth than "M. brevicaudata". In both species, the mesiostyle and distostyle, two crests, on the fourth premolar (P4) and the molars are reduced relative to the condition in other "Microgale". "M. macpheei" lacks an extension of the protocone cusp on the lingual (inner) side of the third upper premolar (P3) and P4, present in "M. brevicaudata", and has the paracone cusp on P4 less well-developed. On the other hand, the front part of the ectostyle crest on P4 is larger. The relative lengths of some of the crests on the two last molars also differ between the two species.
Distribution and ecology.
"Microgale macpheei" is known only from the cave of Andrahomana. Its past presence there, like that of the extinct rodent "Hypogeomys australis", suggests formerly more mesic (wet) conditions around the cave, which is currently in a dry area. In addition to "M. macpheei", three other tenrecs have been described from subfossil material, but none are currently recognized as valid species; thus, "M. macpheei" is at present the only known recently extinct tenrec species. However, there is a remnant patch of mesic forest near Andrahomana, where a population of "M. macpheei" may survive. Although no radiocarbon dating has been carried out on "M. macpheei" remains, bones of the rodent "Macrotarsomys petteri" from layers in the same cave deposit bracketing those where "M. macpheei" was found yield dates of around 2480 and 1760 Before Present.