View source for Anomaluromorpha

{{Short description|Suborder of rodents}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = [[Late Eocene]] to recent<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Fossilworks: Anomaluroidea|url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=41969|access-date=17 December 2021|website=fossilworks.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mindat.org|url=https://www.mindat.org/taxon-P41969.html|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.mindat.org}}</ref> {{fossilrange|40|0}}
| image = Springharelg.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Pedetes capensis]]''
| taxon = Anomaluromorpha
| authority = Bugge, 1974
| subdivision_ranks = Families
| subdivision = [[Anomaluridae]]<br>
[[Pedetidae]]<br>
[[Zenkerellidae]]
}}

'''Anomaluromorpha''' is a [[clade]] that unites the [[anomalure]]s, [[springhare]]s, and [[Zenkerella (rodent)|zenkerella]].  It has alternately been designated as either a [[suborder]] or [[infraorder]].  Most recently, {{Harvnb|Carleton|Musser|2005}} recognized it as one of five suborders of rodents.

== Characteristics ==
The suborder Anomaluromorpha was erected to unite [[Sciurognathi|sciurognathous]] rodents with a [[Hystricomorphy|hystricomorphous]] [[zygomasseteric system]] restricted to [[sub-Saharan Africa]].  Many authors have suggested that the two extant families may be only distantly related, and that they belong to separate suborders or infraorders.  For example, the Pedetidae are the only family of rodents with multiserial enamel except for the [[Hystricognathi]].  This characteristic, the hystricomorphous zygomatic region, and a common distribution in southern continents has led many researchers to suggest that the springhares (but not anomalures) may be allied with hystricognaths.  {{Harvnb|Montgelard|Bentz|Tirard|Vernaeu|2002}} generated some support for Anomaluromorpha in a [[molecular phylogeny]] using [[12S rRNA]] and [[cytochrome b]].

== Families ==
The '''suborder Anomaluromorpha''' contains nine living species in four genera and three families.  An additional [[fossil]] family probably belongs to this group.
*†[[Parapedetidae]]
*[[Pedetidae]] - springhares
*[[Anomaluridae]] - scaly-tailed flying squirrels, [[flying mice]]
*[[Zenkerellinae|Zenkerellidae]] - zenkerella or [[Cameroon scaly-tail]]

== Potential relatives ==
The following fossil taxa are also sometimes placed in the Anomaluromorpha:
*†''[[Diatomys]]''
*†[[Zegdoumyidae]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Ref begin|30em|indent=yes}}
* {{Cite book | last1 = Carleton | first1 = M. D.
 | last2 = Musser | first2 = G. G.
 | chapter = Order Rodentia
 | title = Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference
 | editor1-last = Wilson | editor1-first  = D. E.
 | editor2-last = Reeder | editor2-first = D. M.
 | location = Baltimore | publisher = Johns Hopkins University Press
 | year = 2005 | pages = 745–752 | isbn = 978-0-8018-8221-0
}}
* {{Cite book | last1 = McKenna | first1 = M. C.
 | last2 = Bell | first2 = S. K.
 | title = Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level | year = 1997
 | publisher = Columbia University Press | location = New York
 | isbn = 0-231-11013-8
}}
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Montgelard | first1 = C.
 | last2 = Bentz | first2 = S.
 | last3 = Tirard | first3 = C.
 | last4 = Vernaeu | first4 =  O.
 | last5 = Catzeflis |first5=F. M.
 | title =  Molecular systematics of Sciurognathi: the mitochondrial cytochrome b and 12S rRNA genes support the Anomaluroidea (Pedetidae and Anomaluridae)
 | journal = Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | year =  2002 | volume = 22 | issue = 2 | pages = 220–233
 | doi = 10.1006/mpev.2001.1056 | pmid = 11820843
}}
{{Ref end}}

{{Rodents}}
{{Prehistoric rodents}}
{{Anomaluridae nav}}
{{Pedetidae nav}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1066173}}

[[Category:Anomaluromorpha| ]]
[[Category:Rodent taxonomy]]
[[Category:Mammal suborders]]
[[Category:Extant Eocene first appearances]]