New Species of Rotundomys (Cricetinae) from the Late Miocene of Spain and Its Bearing on the Phylogeny of Cricetulodon and Rotundomys

The material of Rotundomys (Rodentia, Cricetinae) from the Late Miocene fossiliferous complex of Cerro de los Batallones (Madrid, Spain) is described and compared with all species currently placed in the genera Rotundomys and Cricetulodon. Both the morphology and size variation encompassed in the collection of specimens from Batallones suggest they belong to a single taxon different from the other known species of these genera. A new species Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. is, therefore, named for it. A cladistic analysis, which is the first ever published concernig these taxa, has been conducted to clear up the phylogenetic position of the new species. Our results suggest that Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. inserts between R. mundi and R. sabatieri as a relatively primitive taxon inside the clade Rotundomys. The new taxon is more derived than R. mundi in having a transversal connection between the metalophulid and the anterolophulid on some m1 but more primitive than R. sabatieri and the most evolved species of Rotundomys (R. montisrotuni +R.bressanus) in its less developed lophodonty showing distinct cusps, shallower valleys, and the presence of a subdivided anteroloph on the M1. The species of Cricetulodon do not form a monophyletic group. As a member of Rotundomys, Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. is more derived than all of these taxa in its greater lophodonty and the complete loss of the anterior protolophule, mesolophs, and mesolophids.


Introduction
The Cerro de los Batallones fossiliferous complex (CBFC) comprises a set of nine sites that have yielded vertebrate remains of Late Miocene age. It is situated in Torrejón de Velasco, South of the city of Madrid (Spain) (Figure 1). CBFC consists of cavities filled in with clays that are interpreted as having acted as traps for large vertebrates [1].
Besides fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and birds, the sites of Cerro de los Batallones deserve the attention they have received because of both the abundance and pristine conservation of the fossil carnivores and herbivores they yield [2]. However, the micromammals (insectivores, lagomorphs, and rodents) are also represented by numerous and well-preserved remains, although only the cricetodontine Hispanomys has been studied in detail so far [3]. The aim of this article is to provide a description and a systematic assessment of the specimens from Batallones assigned to the genus Rotundomys and conduct the first cladistic analysis involving not only all the species currently recognized as pertaining to Rotundomys but also to the closely related genus Cricetulodon. Rotundomys is only known with certainty from the Vallesian (late MN9-MN10) of France, Spain, and Portugal. It is characterized by the development of lophodonty and moderate hypsodonty in their cheek teeth. The morphological similarities in the molar crown pattern between the most advanced species of Rotundomys and early arvicolids have led to the idea that Rotundomys could have been the taxon from which arvicolids were eventually derived [4]. However, a number of other cricetids show arvicoline features so that the exact relationships of Rotundomys with respect to arvicolines remains to be determined [5].

Material and Methods
The material studied herein was collected thanks to numerous summer field and washing campaigns, in which the authors took part. The excavations in the CBFC were carried out according to the authorization issued by the Dirección General de Patrimonio Histórico de la Comunidad de Madrid. All necessary permits were obtained for the described study, which complied with all relevant regulations. We have received permission from the Université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1 (Villeurbanne, France) for the loan of the The systematic revision presented below is based on the examination of specimens and casts of the MNCN and FSL collections and data from the literature. We examined dental material of the following taxa: -Rotundomys sp. nov. from Batallones (see below); -Rotundomys montisrotundi from Montredon (Hérault, France) and Rotundomys cf. montisrotundi from Douvre (Ain, France) (unnumbered specimens); -Rotundomys bressanus from Soblay (Ain, France), Ambérieu 2c, and Ambérieu 1 (Ain, France) (unnumbered specimens); -casts of Rotundomys cf. mundi from Terrasa (Barcelona, Spain) (unnumbered specimens) and R. freiriensis from Freiria do Rio Maior (Santarém, Portugal) (unnumbered specimens).
The new specimens have been described and compared with the equivalent teeth of all the species of Rotundomys known to date and some Cricetulodon. First, second, and third lower molars are designated as m1, m2, and m3, respectively, and first, second, and third upper molars as M1, M2, and M3. The terminology used in the tooth descriptions follows the rodent dental terminology of Freudenthal et al. [6] with some adjustments (see Figure 2). The occlusal measurements (greatest length and greatest width; Table 1) of the teeth of Rotundomys from Batallones have been obtained with a Nikon digital counter CM-6S measuring device. The calculations of the statistical descriptives and Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) have been carried out with a standard software (SPSS Statistics version 18.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Tests on normality and homogeneity of variance have been performed with this software before the Analyses of the Variance. The relative reduction in the length of the third molars was calculated using the (mean Length of M1)/(mean Length of M3) and (mean Length m1)/(mean Length m3) ratios, which is a classic method for evaluating the degree of reduction of the third molars [3]. For Rotundomys samples whose variance was known, the standard error of the ratio (SER) was calculated using the Delta approximation (sensu Ratio technique in SPSS) [3]. The formula used is: (where Var is the variance, r the coefficient of correlation between the length of the first and third molars, and sd is the standard deviation) The coefficient of correlation of all the Rotundomys and Cricetulodon samples included in Table 2 is 0.503 for the upper molars and 0.527 for the lower ones.
The cladistic analysis carried out in this work treated as ingroup all known species of the genera Cricetulodon and Rotundomys. Therefore, the taxonomic units are: Cricetulodon hartenbergeri, C. sabadellensis, C. bugesiensis, C. meini, C. lucentensis, Rotundomys montisrotundi, R. bressanus, R. mundi, R. sabatieri, R. freiriensis, Rotundomys sp. nov. from Batallones. Democricetodon franconicus has been selected as outgroup. It is a well-known species of Democricetodon, which is a genus from which Cricetulodon is supposed to have been derived (see e.g., [7]). A total of 42 phylogenetically informative characters (mainly of dental morphology) have been coded (Text S1). 31 characters are binary, whereas 11 are multistate. Owing to the lack of a priori information, all characters were unordered and equally weighted (Fitch optimality criterion). As some species are known so far from only a few specimens, the influence of intraspecific variation in the scoring of the characters could not be assessed.
The data matrix (Text S2) was built using Mesquite version 2.6 (Maddison WP & Maddison DR, Mesquite Project, Vancouver, Canada) and processed with TNT [8] with the "implicit enumeration" option. Branch support was estimated through two complementary indices: Bremer support [9] and relative Bremer support [10].

Nomenclatural acts
The electronic edition of this article conforms to the requirements of the amended International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and hence the new name contained herein is available under that Code from the electronic edition of this article. This published work and the nomenclatural acts it contains have been registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the ICZN. The ZooBank LSIDs (Life Science Identifiers) can be resolved and the associated information viewed through any standard web browser by appending the LSID to the prefix "http://zoobank.org/". The LSID for this publication is: urn: lsid: zoobank.org: pub: 308BFD06-6024-4BF5-9F0C-F9C6415F8201. The electronic edition of this work was published in a journal with an ISSN, and has been archived and is available from the following digital repositories: PubMed Central, LOCKSS.

Results
Order RODENTIA Bowdich, 1821 [11] Family CRICETIDAE  Etymology: From the Latin intimus, the most interior, in reference to the fact that the locus typicus is situated in the innermost position with respect to the other Spanish sites, which are much closer to the shore.  Diagnosis: Cricetinae with lophodont cheek teeth; protoconid connected to the hypolophulid in a regularly curved crest on the first lower molars; wide valleys usually closed by thin, low cingula; weak anterior connections; anterior protolophule and mesolophs/ ids absent and anterior metalophule usually absent; strongly fordwardly-directed anterior metalophulid and strongly backwardly-directed posterior metalophule. Well-developed metacone on the M3.
Differential diagnosis: Differing from the species of Cricetulodon in being more lophodont, lacking the anterior protolophule, and usually the anterior metalophule and the mesolophs/ids, in having the protoconid connected to the hypolophulid in a regularly curved crest on the m1 and the M3 much less reduced. Differing from Rotundomys bressanus in being smaller, less lophodont, with distinct cusps/ids, better developed cingula surrounding the valleys and having low, weak and interrupted metalophulid and anterolophulid on the m1. Differing from R. mundi in being larger, lacking the anterior metalophule on the M2, and in having the M3 less reduced and without strong connection between paracone and labial anteroloph. Differing from R. montisrotundi and R. sabatieri in being smaller, less lophodont, and in having more distinct cusps/ids and shallower valleys. Differing from R. freiriensis in having the anterolophulid, a strongly forwardlydirected metalophulid on the m1, lingual anterolophid on the m2, and the M3 much less reduced.

Description
Material from the type locality (Batallones 5). m1: The teeth are elongated, being widest at the level of the hypoconid. The anterior part of the teeth is fairly broad. The anterolophid, which is as high as the main cusps, is usually divided in two or three cuspids, but it may consist of a single ridge. The labial anterolophid descends and nearly joins the protoconid, enclosing a wide valley (protosinusid). The poorly developed metalophulid points strongly forwards, being as it is almost longitudinal. It does not usually connect to the anterolophid and, when it does, this connexion is thin. The mesolophid is absent. The protoconid joins the hypolophulid in a regularly curved crest. The protoconid and the hypoconid have about the same size. The mesosinusid is large, curved, and partially closed in most specimens by a thin and low lingual cingulum ridge. The posterolophid bulges as a posteroconid; from it, a lingual crest descends, but does not usually reach the entoconid. Thus, the posterosinusid is not completely closed. The sinusid is nearly transverse and it is closed by a low labial cingulum ridge.
Three out of 11 specimens (BAT5'10-07, BAT5'2006-I16d-02 and BAT5'11-01; Figure 3A-C) have the metaconid isolated and  m2: The maximal width of the tooth is at the level of the hypoconid. The anteroconid is distinct and centrally located; from it, a strong labial anterolophid runs down, reaches the protoconid, and closes the protosinusid. The lingual anterolophid is absent in the entire sample. The metalophulid runs obliquely forwards and the mesolophid is absent. As in the m1, the protoconid and the entoconid form a continuous arch. The labial cusps have nearly the same size. The mesosinusid is large and curved; it is closed by a strong and low lingual cingulum ridge. The posterolophid is bulged in a posteroconid; from it, runs a lingual crest that joins the entoconid and closes the posterolingual sinusid. The nearly transverse sinusid is closed by a low and strong labial cingulum ridge. These teeth have two roots. m3: Except for BAT5'10-05, BAT5'10-07, BAT5'10-15, BAT5'10-06 (Figures 3A, 4C-E) and possibly a worn specimen (BAT5'10-12; Figure 4F), which have the posterolophid connected to the entoconid closing the posterolingual sinusid, the remainining m3 from Batallones 5 show a short posterolophid that does not join with the entoconid. All m3 are somewhat posteriorly reduced and, therefore, their hypoconid is reduced as well. The anteroconid is large and slightly lingually located. They show a low and strong labial anterolophid that connects to the anterior wall of the protoconid, closing the protosinusid. The lingual anterolophid is lacking. Due to the very anterior position of the metalophulid,  the lingual anterior cingulum is absent. The posterior arm of the protoconid is very long and it connects to the hypolophulid, but there is no longer the regularly curved crest that characterized the m1 and m2 of this taxon. The mesosinusid is large and it is closed by a thin low lingual cingulum ridge. The sinusid is closed by a strong labial cingulum ridge with a cuspule on the posterior wall of the protoconid in some specimens (BAT5'06-I15-5; Figure 4B). Some specimens (BAT5'10-05; Figure 4E) show a short labial posterolophid that closes the small labial posterosinusid. These teeth are two rooted. M1: The prelobe (all structures anterior to the protocone and paracone) is long and the posterior side of the protocone is located at about the midpoint of the teeth. The anterolophule connects the protocone lingually with the anteroloph, which is usually divided into two anterocones. 2 out of 4 specimens (BAT5'11-02 and BAT5'10-14; Fig 5A-B) show a labial spur on it that connects to the anteroloph. Another specimen (BAT5'06-I15-28; Figure 5C) shows at this level a slight inflation that may correspond to this spur and BAT5'06-01 ( Figure 5D) lacks all trace of it. None of the teeth have a true mesoloph but they have the anterior arm of the hypocone somewhat inflated. All the teeth but BAT5'11-02 ( Figure 5A), which has a low and thin anterior metalophule, lack this structure. The anterior protolophule is absent in all specimens.
The posterior protolophule and metalophule are posterolabially directed. The metacone is located on the posterolabial corner of the tooth and it is connected to the posteroloph through the posterior metalophule.
Two specimens (BAT5'06-01 and BAT5'10-14; Figure 5B, D) show a thin labial ridge emerging from the end of the posteroloph, enclosing a small labial posterosinus. The sinus is transverse. Thin and low labial and lingual cingula enclose the valleys. These teeth are three rooted (the lingual root is the largest).
M2: The M2 from Batallones 5 are widest at the level of the paracone. They have a large anterocone, slightly lingually located. The labial and lingual anteroloph are low but well developed. The lingual anteroloph, placed much lower than the labial one, joins with the protocone and closes the protosinus. The labial anteroloph does not usually reach the paracone. A strong labial cingulum ridge closes the mesosinus. Except for specimen BAT5'06-I15-16 ( Figure 5E), in which a very thin and short mesoloph is noticed, a true mesoloph is absent in the entire sample. However, the hypocone, which forms a wider V than the protocone, has its anterior arm slightly inflated at the level of the mesoloph. The metacone is located on the posterolabial edge of the teeth. These teeth lack anterior protolophule and metalophule. The posterior protolophule is slightly oblique, whereas the posterior metalophule points strongly backwards, joining with   Figure 5D-E), the end of the posteroloph extends as a thin labial ridge that runs posterolabially and reaches the posterior wall of the metacone, enclosing a very small posterosinus. In the remaining specimens, the posterosinus is lacking. All specimens have a transverse sinus, which is closed by a low and distinct lingual cingulum. The labial valleys are closed by thin but distinct low cingula. These teeth have four roots.
M3: The posterior portion is somewhat reduced, so the hypocone, even though it is well developed, is smaller than the protocone. The anterocone is large and located slightly lingually. The labial anteroloph is higher and better developed than the lingual one, which is very low but distinctly noticeable. They join with the protocone and paracone, respectively, closing as they do the anterior valleys. All specimens show the anterior metalophule, which is generally long and reaches the metacone, but it can also be of medium length and free (as in BAT5'10-01 and BAT 5'06-I15-16; Figure 5E-F). The posterior metalophule is fused with the posteroloph. All M3 from Batallones 5 have the posteroloph connected to the posterior wall of the large metacone. The lingual cingulum is thin and low and closes the transverse sinus. The labial one is much less developed than it is on the M1 and M2 of this taxon. These teeth are three rooted (a single lingual and a double root or three separate roots).
Material from the other localities. Batallones 3: The material from this locality is composed of 5 hemimandibles, one of them without m1, and a cranium. The morphology of the material from Batallones 3 is similar to that described of the population of Batallones 5. Nevertheless, there are several morphometrical differences. Except for specimen BAT3-12, the m1 are longer and narrower than those of Batallones 5. The scarcity of the material from Batallones 3 does not allow for precise statistical testing of the metrical differences between those assemblages for most dental elements. The tests carried out on samples larger than 4 specimens reveal no significant differences between Batallones 3 and 5 except for the greater length of the m1 (t-student = 3.77, signification (bilateral) = 0.002) in Batallones 3. Table 2 shows that the ratio between M1 and M3 length is higher in Batallones 3 than in Batallones 5 implying a possible trend towards relatively smaller M3, not observed on theoretically more advanced forms of Rotundomys.
The morphotypes of the m1 observed in Batallones 3 correspond to some found at Batallones 5. For instance, BAT3'07-234 ( Figure 6A) has the metaconid connected to the lingual anterolophid through a weak metalophulid that strongly points forwards and the protoconid is connected to the labial anterolophid through a long anterolophulid. BAT3'08-1 (Figure 6B) has the metaconid isolated and the protoconid joined with the labial or central part of the anterolophid through a long longitudinal anterolophulid. Besides, BAT3-09 ( Figure 6C) and BAT3'07-234 ( Figure 6A) have the metaconid connected to the protoconid by a thin transverse ridge. The former has the metaconid isolated from the anterolophid. The m2 and m3 from Batallones 3 do not differ from those of Batallones 5. The particular morphology shown by the specimens BAT3-12 ( Figure 6D) and BAT3-2007-234 ( Figure 6A), which have a small labial posterolophid, is found also in some specimens from Batallones 5 (BAT5'10-05; Figure 4E).
With regard to the upper molars, their morphology is also similar to the specimens from Batallones 5 that lack the spur of the anterolophule. As the teeth of the single specimen ( Figures 6E,  7A-B) we have from this locality are worn, it is not possible to discern if they had an additional ridge arising from the end of the posteroloph.
Batallones 10 locality: From this locality only two maxillary fragments with M1-M3 belonging to the same individual have been recorded ( Figure 7C-F). The morphology of these teeth is similar to that found in the population of Batallones 5. In particular, the M1 match well those from Batallone 5 that lack the spur of the anterolophule.
Batallones 1 locality: This locality has yielded three isolated teeth: 1M2, 1M3, and 1 m3 ( Figure 7G-I). The M2 and M3 are similar in morphology to those of the population of Batallones 5 and fall within its size range. The morphology of the m3 is also similar but it is slightly larger than those of the type population.
The cheek teeth of this species are smaller than the equivalent teeth of Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. from Batallones. In addition, this species is characterized by the presence of mesoloph and anterior protolophule on the upper molars. Moreover, the M3 of Cricetulodon hartenbergeri are much more reduced than those of R. intimus sp. nov. and their morphology is very different. For instance, the metacone of the former taxon is very small and may even disappear as a distinct cusp by fusion with the posteroloph. In contrast, the upper molars of R. intimus sp. nov. lack the mesoloph and the anterior protolophule and their M3 are less reduced and characterized by a well-developed metacone. With regard to the lower molars, most C. hartenbergeri have a mesolophid, which is absent in R. intimus sp. nov. In addition, most m1 of C. hartenbergeri have the anterolophulid connected to the lingual cusp of the anterolophid, whereas only 20% of the m1 of R. intimus sp. nov. show this kind of connection. Finally, in the m1 and m2 of C. hartenbergeri, the protoconid does not join the hypolophulid in a regularly curved crest as is the case in R. intimus sp. nov.
Most of the M1 and M2 of Cricetulodon sabadellensis have a short mesoloph and a labial spur of the anterolophule directed towards the paracone (anterior protolophule). These structures are lacking in almost all the M1 and M2 of Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. The M3 of C. sabadellensis also have double protolophule and a short anterior metalophule. In contrast, the M3 of R. intimus sp. nov. lack the anterior protolophule and have a longer anterior metalophule. The morphology of the m1 of C. sabadellensis is very different from that of R. intimus sp. nov. The latter species has the metalophulid nearly longitudinal, whereas it is transverse in C. sabadellensis.
About half the M1 of Cricetulodon bugesiensis have double protolophule and anterior metalophule and almost all of them have the mesoloph, usually of medium length or long. In contrast, the M1 of Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. lack a true mesoloph and the anterior protoloph and metaloph. All the M2 of C. bugesiensis have a double protoloph, most of them a true mesoloph, and about half the specimens show an anterior metalophule that can be formed by the mesoloph or be independent from it. In contrast, all the M2 of R. intimus sp. nov. lack the anterior protolophule and metalophule and only one specimen shows a very short mesoloph. The M3 of C. bugesiensis also have a double protoloph and a number of them have a mesoloph, which is absent in R. intimus sp. nov. With regard to the lower molars, over half of the m1 and some m2 and m3 have a mesolophid, which is absent on all lower molars of R. intimus sp. nov.
Comparison with Cricetulodon meini (Agustí, 1986) [31]. This species was originally created by Agustí [31] as belonging to the genus Kowalskia. Later, this taxon was reallocated to the genus Cricetulodon [7] on the basis of the lingual anterolophulid on the m1, a reduced M3, and reduced mesolophs and mesolophids. The holotype (FCA-237), a right isolated M1 from the MN12 locality of Casa del Acero (Murcia, Spain), is housed in IPS.
The upper molars of Cricetulodon meini have a double protolophule and they can bear a mesoloph. In contrast, those of Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. lack the anterior protolophule and the mesoloph. Moreover, the M3 of C. meini are much more reduced than those of R. intimus sp. nov. and lack the lingual anteroloph, which is well developed in the latter species. The m1 of C. meini have a metalophulid that does not point strongly forwards whereas that in R. intimus sp. nov. is nearly longitudinal. In addition, the lower molars of the former taxon usually have the mesolophid, which is lacking on those of R. intimus sp. nov.

Comparison with Cricetulodon lucentensis (Freudenthal,
Lacomba et Martín-Suarez, 1991) [32]. This species was originally attributed to the genus Neocricetodon by Freudenthal et al. [32]. Subsequently, Freudenthal et al. [7] transferred it to the genus Cricetulodon on the basis of the clearly lingual anterolophulid of some m1 and the strong reduction of the third molars. The holotype of this taxon (RGM 404 677) is a right m1 from the MN12 locality of Crevillente 17 (Alicante, Spain) [32] that is housed in RGM. Additional material of this species has been recovered from Crevillente 5 and Crevillente 8 (Alicante, Spain) [32]. Some m1 of Cricetulodon lucentensis have a long mesolophid, which is absent on the equivalent teeth of Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. In addition, the m1 of the former species have the metalophulid directed much less forwards than what can be observed in the latter. The m3 of C. lucentensis are much more reduced than those belonging to R. intimus sp. nov. In addition, the m3 of the former taxon have a lingual anterolophid that is absent in the latter species. Most of the M1 and M2 of C. lucentensis have a double protolophule, a double or anterior metalophule, and a mesoloph. In contrast, the M1 and M2 of R. intimus sp. nov. lack the anterior protolophule, the anterior metalophule, and the mesoloph. In addition, the M2 of C. lucentensis have a well-developed labial anteroloph that closes a large anterosinus. The M3 of C. lucentensis are morphologically very different and much more reduced than those of R. intimus sp. nov. Mein, 1975 [15]. This species was erected on the basis of 43 isolated cheek teeth from the late MN10 locality of Soblay (Ain, France) [15]. After the study of additional material from Montredon (Herault, France), Aguilar [33] considered this taxon a synonym of Rotundomys montisrotundi. However, Freudenthal et al. [7] argued that there were enough characters to distinguish the two taxa (for instance, the overall size, the wear surface of protoconid and protocone, the degree of reduction of both, labial anterolophid on the m1 and posterolophid-entoconid connection on the m3) and, therefore, they considered R. bressanus a valid species, an opinion with which we concur.

Comparison with Rotundomys bressanus
The holotype (FSL 65443) of this species is an isolated left M1 housed in FSL.
The cheek teeth of Rotundomys bressanus are larger, more lophodont, and have deeper valleys than those of R. intimus sp. nov. The upper molars of R. bressanus have the posteroloph completely fused with the metalophule, whereas there are various specimens in which the posteroloph exceeds its junction with the metalophule in the sample from Batallones. Besides, most of the M1 of R. bressanus have a spur of the anterolophule, which connects the protocone to the labial anterocone, whereas most of the M1 of R. intimus sp. nov. lack it. The M2 of R. bressanus show a strong mesocone and usually a short but distinct mesoloph, which are absent on most of the equivalent teeth from Batallones. In addition, the m1 of R. bressanus have a well-marked and high anterolophulid and a well-developed metalophulid, whereas the anterolophulid and metalophulid are low, weak, and interrupted (or even absent) in most of the m1 of R. intimus sp. nov. Moreover, R. bressanus is characterized by the reduction of the labial anterolophid on the m1, which is present in R. intimus sp. nov.

Comparison with Rotundomys mundi Calvo, Elizaga,
Ló pez-Martínez, Robles et Usera, 1978 [16]. This species was created on the basis of some isolated cheek teeth from the MN10 locality of Hijar-1 (Albacete, Spain). The holotype (H-7) is a right M2. We were unable to locate any of the specimens mentioned in [16] despite our efforts, so the present whereabouts should be considered as unknown. Agustí ([22]: 136) has described Rotundomys cf. mundi from the late MN10 localities of Trinxera Nord Autopista, Trinxera Nord Autopista II, Trinxera Sud Autopista, and Can Perellada (Barcelona, Spain). Later [36] he changed this assignation into Rotundomys sp.. However, according to Freudenthal et al. [7] this material would in fact correspond to R. mundi, the first interpretation of Agustí [22] being accurate.
R. mundi is based on a very small number of specimens. As far as we can judge of it, R. sabatieri, which is known from many more specimens, is not fundamentally different from it. However, the scoring of these two species differs (e.g., characters 29 and 34) so that we provisionally accept them as distinct pending further investigations.
The morphology of the single recorded M2 of Rotundomys mundi is very different from that of the equivalent teeth of R. intimus sp. nov. The former has a complete anterior metalophule that is absent on the M2 of Rotundomys from Batallones, in which the metalophule is short and posterior. In addition, the M3 of R. mundi are much more reduced than those of R. intimus sp. nov. and they have a strong connection between the paracone and the labial anteroloph, which is unknown on the M3 of R. intimus sp. nov.
On the basis of the rich sample of Rotundomys montisrotundi from Montredon (Herault, France), Aguilar [33] described various morphotypes that he found on the cheek teeth of this species. We found some of these morphotypes on the check teeth of R. intimus sp. nov. but in different percentages in the Spanish and French populations. For instance, 28% of the m1 show the morphotype i (specimens with the metaconid isolated and a longitudinal anterolophulid connected to the anterolophid) in Batallones 5, whereas it has been found only in 9% of the specimens from Montredon. The connections between the metalophulid and the anterolophid or between the anterolophulid and the anterolophid are weaker in the Batallones sample than in R. montisrotundi. Moreover, some m1 of R. intimus sp. nov. have a weak but distinct posterior metalophulid, which is absent in R. montisrotundi. On the whole, the molars of R. intimus sp. nov. are less lophodont than those R. montisrotundi. In fact, in the former species all cusps/ids are very distinct. In particular, the metacone is large and the cusp/ids of the anteroloph and anterolophid are distinct in the first molars. The cingula of R. intimus sp. nov. are less strong and the valleys shallower than in R. montisrotundi. R. intimus sp. nov. is more robust than R. montisrotundi.
The cheek teeth of Rotundomys sabatieri are more lophodont with less distinct cusps and are less robust than those of R. intimus sp. nov. Moreover, all M1 of R. sabatieri have the metalophule completely fused with the posteroloph and lack the labial posterosinus (morphotype c according to Aguilar [33]). On the contrary, on the M1 of R. intimus sp. nov. the metalophule is not completely fused with the posteroloph, leaving a small labial posterosinus, which disappears with wear. In addition, some of the M1 of R. sabatieri show a short but distinct mesoloph (or incomplete anterior metalophule) directed towards the metacone, whereas a true mesoloph is never present on the M1 of R. intimus sp. nov. (instead, there is a thickening of the anterior arm of the hypocone). Some of the M2 of R. sabatieri show a double metalophule (morphotypes d and e according to Aguilar [33]), whereas none of R. intimus sp. nov. show it. With respect to the lower molars, the m1 of R. sabatieri have strong connections of metalophulid-anterolophid and anterolophulid-anterolophid, which are weak, interrupted or even absent on the equivalent teeth of the Batallones sample.
Comparison with Rotundomys freiriensis Antunes et Mein, 1979 [17]. This species was coined on the basis of 21 teeth recovered from the lower MN10 site of Freiria do Rio Maior (Santarém, Portugal) [17]. Its holotype, an isolated left m1, is housed at the Stratigraphical and Palaeobiological center of UNL. Additional material of this species has not been found to date.
Rotundomys freiriensis is smaller than R. intimus sp. nov. The m1 of R. freiriensis lack the anterolophulid and have a transverse metalophulid connected to the protoconid instead of the anteroconid. All m1 of R. intimus sp. nov. have a distinct anterolophulid and the metalophulid points always strongly forwards, nearly longitudinal. Furthermore, the m2 of R. freiriensis have a distinct lingual anterolophid that is absent on the m2 of R. intimus sp. nov. The M3 of R. freiriensis are much more reduced than those belonging to the Batallones sample.

Discussion
The general morphological pattern of Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. recalls that of R. montisrotundi and R. sabatieri. However, the detailed comparison described above between the type material of the latter species and R. intimus sp. nov. reveals the existence of important differences between these taxa that justify the erection of the new species. R. intimus sp. nov. is characterized by being less lophodont, having higher cusps/ids, weaker connections, shallower valleys, and thinner cingula than R. montisrotundi and R. sabatieri. There are also size differences between the type material of these taxa and the samples from Batallones. Figure 8 shows the scatter plot of the maximum length and width of the dental elements of all species belonging to the genus Rotundomys. It clearly shows the differences in size between R. intimus sp. nov. and the remaining species of the genus. The specimens from Batallones 5 are distributed in the lower range of R. montisrotundi, R. bressanus and R. sabatieri and in the upper range of R. freiriensis and R. mundi.
Several variance analyses (ANOVA) have been performed for the length and width of each dental element to appreciate the differences amongst the samples (Text S3). The results show significant differences for most dental elements between the population from Batallones 5 and Rotundomys montisrotundi on one hand and R. sabatieri on the other hand. In fact, with the exception of the M3, the width of the m1 and the length of the M2, the Tukey's Honest Significant Differences post-hoc test indicates that the length and width of the molars of R. montisrotundi are significantly larger than those of R. intimus sp. nov. from Batallones 5. The differences in size that we have found in these samples are particularly meaningful taking into consideration that the population of Montredon presents a very wide range of size dispersion (see Figure 8).
With regard to R. sabatieri, this test shows that the length of the M1, m2, and m3 are significantly larger than in R. intimus sp. nov. from Batallones 5.

Phylogeny
In order to elucidate the relationships between the species pertaining to the genera Cricetulodon and Rotundomys and the position of the new species from Batallones within Rotundomys, the first cladistic analysis involving all species of these genera has been conducted.
A single most parsimonious tree has been generated with a length of 67 and a low degree of homoplasy (CI = 0.746 and RI = 0.825). Branch support was estimated through two complementary indices: Bremer Support [9] and Relative Bremer Support [10]. These indices are indicated for each node on the cladogram in the figure 9. It should be stressed that some of them are as low as 1, including that from which Rotundomys intimus arises. On a side note, no difference in topology (only very slight CI and RI deviations) occurs when serial homologues (characters 14, 16, 17, 18, and 37) are run as single characters.
The tree shows a completely resolved topology. Cricetulodon hartenbergeri and C. sabadellensis position as sister-species in the most basal branch. C. bugesiensis and C. lucentensis split as sisterspecies at the base of a clade that is one node less inclusive. C. meini inserts between them and the remaining species of the ingroup, which all belong to Rotundomys. These species are henceforth fully asymmetrically distributed along the crown of the cladogram in an arrangement that lines up from R. freiriensis to R. bressanus plus R. montisrotundi. R. intimus sp. nov. locates in the middle of this sequence, in which it is flanked basally by R. mundi and apically by R. sabateri.
However as explained above (1 comparison), the available material of R. mundi is very scarce so far so that only about 60% of the characters could be scored. Thus, this taxon is prone to shift its phylogenetical position, given new information. However, if we prune Rotundomys mundi from the ingroup before running the analysis the topology of the tree obtained is not altered, which means that this species is not currently affecting the results of our analysis.
The transformations supporting the topology of this tree (under the ACCTRAN and DELTRAN optimizations) are listed in Table 3. Each internal node is discussed below, beginning from the most basal (whenever both unambiguous and ambiguous synapomorphies support a given node, only the former are mentioned).
Node 22 (Ingroup). This clade is supported by three exclusive and unambiguous synapomorphies: LM1/LM3 ratio between 1.78 and 1.58; anterolophulid mostly joined with the lingual cusp of the anterolophid (this character is lost at node 19, all taxa arising from this node have the anterolophid mostly connected to the labial cusp of the anterolophid except for R. freiriensis, which lacks the anterolophulid); absence of mesolophid on the m2.
Node 13 (Cricetulodon hartenbergeri + Cricetulodon sabadellensis). Three exclusive and unambiguous synapomorphies support this clade: M2 with nearly transverse posterior metalophule, presence of mesolophid and metalophulid connected to the anterolophulid behind the anteroconid on the m3. This node is supported by an additional unambiguous and non-exclusive synapomorphy: the frequent absence of anterior metalophule on the M1 (a parallelism with node 18 under ACCTRAN and node 17 under DELTRAN).
Node 14 (Cricetulodon bugesiensis + Cricetulodon lucentensis). This clade is supported by an unambiguous and exclusive synapomorphy: absence of anterior metalophule on the M1. Two non-exclusive synapomorphies are also present at this node: presence of a forked anterolophule in some M1 (a parallelism with node 18 under ACCTRAN and with node 17 under DELTRAN); metalophulid connected to the anteroconid on the m2 (a parallelism with node 18).
Node 21 (Cricetulodon bugesiensis + Cricetulodon lucentensis) + more derived species. Three unambiguous and exclusive synapomorphies support this node: m1 longer than 1.95 mm (this character is lost in Cricetulodon bugesiensis and Rotundomys freiriensis, which have a length of the m1 between 1.70 and 1.95 mm), M1 with posterior metalophule fused with the posteroloph or very oblique backwards, and absence of labial posterosinus.
Node 20 (Cricetulodon meini + more derived). A single unambiguous and exclusive synapomorphy supports this node: absence of anterior metalophule on the M2 (this character is reversed in Rotundomys mundi, in which this structure is present in some specimens, and in the taxa arising from node 16).
Node 19 (Rotundomys freiriensis + more derived species). The clade Rotundomys is sustained by four exclusive and unambiguous synapomorphies: loss of the anterior protolophule on the M1-M3, protoconid on the m1 connected to the hypolophulid in a regularly curved crest. In addition, three non-exclusive and unambiguous synapomorphies support this node as the absences of: mesoloph on the M2 (a parallelism with some specimens belonging to Cricetulodon sabadellensis, C. lucentensis, and C. bugesiensis), labial posterosinus on the M3 (a parallelism with C. sabadellensis) and mesolophid on the m1 (a parallelism with some specimens of  Table 3. Synapomorphies plotted in the most parsimonious tree under ACCTRAN and DELTRAN optimizations. stage. We, therefore, continue using Rotundomys in the narrower sense used by Freudenthal et al. [7] and others. The evolution of Rotundomys is marked by the development of lophodonty on the cheek teeth, the loss of the anterior protolophule on the upper molars, the connection between protoconid and hypolophulid in a regularly curved crest, and the complete loss of mesolophs and mesolophids. However, the absence of the mesoloph on the M1 and M2 and the mesolophid on the m1 is also found in some specimens of several species of Cricetulodon. This suggests that these characters were not stable in populations of Cricetulodon, but quickly became so in the course of Rotundomys evolution. The mesolophs and the mesolophids are lost on the M3, m2, and m3 earlier than on the remaining teeth. The evolution from a nearly transverse to a very much oblique backwards posterior metalophule, commonly fused with the posteroloph on the upper molars, begins before the establishment of the Rotundomys clade. The same holds true for the loss of the anterior metalophule on the M1 and M2, which occurs in most specimens of Rotundomys spp. Nevertheless, this structure is also lost in most or all M1 of some species of Cricetulodon (C. sabadellensis, C. hartenbergeri, and C. meini) and on the M2 of C. bugesiensis and C. meini.
Rotundomys intimus sp. nov. shares one exclusive and unambiguous synapomorphy with the more derived species of the genus: an occasional transverse connection between the metalophulid and the anterolophulid on the m1 (character 29, state 1). These species also present the unambiguous synapomorphy of having lost the lingual anterolophid on the m2 (character 34, state 1), which is not exclusive as it is also found homoplastically (parallelism) in Cricetulodon bugesiensis. Two other possible synapomophies are the anterolophule that is forked in part of the M1 at least (character 5, state 1) and the anterior metalophule that is absent in most, but not all, of the M1 (character 8, state 1). They are, however, equivocal (the M1 is unknown in R. mundi, which flanks basally R. intimus sp. nov.) and, in any event, non-exclusive as the former character-state has been acquired independently in (C. bugesiensis +C. lucentensis) and the latter in (C. hartenbergeri +C. sabadellensis). On the other hand, R. intimus sp. nov. is drawn aside from the clade formed by the most evolved species of Rotundomys by its archaic lophodonty showing distinct cusps (character 1, state 1), the shallow depth of the valleys of the occlusal surface (character 2, state 0), and the subdivided anteroconid on the M1 (character 4, state 0). Indeed, in R. sabatieri, R. montisrotundi, and R. bressanus the lophodonty is perfected, the valleys are deep, and the anteroconid on the M1 is crest-shaped (all are exclusive and unambiguous synapomorphies). In addition, in these species the anterior metalophule is mostly absent on the M2 (unambiguous synapomorphy), as it occurs homoplastically in C. bugesiensis, whereas it is always absent in R. intimus sp. nov. (a character-state acquired in the ancestor of C. meini and more derived species, but reversed in R. mundi). The moderately developed lophodonty of R. intimus sp. nov. can be optimised as either a reversion to the state that appears at node 19 (ACCTRAN) or as a parallelism with R. freiriensis (DELTRAN). However, the hypothesis of a reversion is not very plausible because once the lophodonty is acquired within a lineage, it is retained. The fact that the phylogenetical position of Rotundomys mundi is uncertain due to the amount of missing data makes it possible for Rotundomys intimus to be actually the second most basal taxon inside Rotundomys, i.e. not as distant from R. freiriensis as reflected in our analysis.

Supporting Information
Text S1 List of Characters and character states used for the phylogenetic analysis.