Sains Malaysiana 48(12)(2019): 2613–2622

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4812-02

First Systematic Study of Late Pleistocene Rat Fossils from Batu Caves: New Record of Extinct Species and Biogeography Implications

(Kajian Sistematik Pertama Fosil Tikus Akhir Pleistosen dari Batu Caves: Rekod Baharu Spesies yang Telah Pupus dan Implikasi Biogeografi)

ISHLAHUDA HANI SAHAK¹, LIM TZE TSHEN², ROS FATIHAH MUHAMMAD¹*, NUR SYIMAH IZZAH ABDULLAH THANI³ & MOHAMMAD AMIN ABD AZIZ⁴

¹Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

²Sarawak Museum Campus Project, Jalan Barrack, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

³Biomedical Museum, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

⁴Department of Mineral and Geoscience, Menara PjH, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Precinct 2, 62100 Putrajaya, Federal Territory, Malaysia

Received: 11 March 2019/Accepted: 26 September 2019

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the first systematic study of rat (Murinae) isolated dental fossils collected from Late Pleistocene (66000 years ago) cave breccia deposits in Cistern Cave, Batu Caves, Selangor. The cave is partly deposited with fine, coarse and pebbly breccia mixed with abundant mammal fossil cemented to the wall and ceiling of the cave. A total of 39 specimens of teeth and jaw fragments of Murinae were recovered among other large and small mammal remains. Dental morphology and size comparisons suggest that the fossils belong to extinct and extant species which occurred in Peninsular Malaysia and adjacent regions. The species identified are Chiropodomys gliroides, Leopoldamys sabanus, Leopoldamys minutus, Maxomys whiteheadi, Maxomys rajah and Rattus rattus. Almost all species identified from the fossils are known as markers for lowland forested environments.

Keywords: Caves fossils; Murinae; Peninsular Malaysia; quaternary

ABSTRAK

Kertas ini membentangkan kajian sistematik pertama fosil gigi tikus (Murinae) yang ditemui di dalam endapan breksia gua yang berusia Akhir Pleistosen (66000 tahun dahulu) di Gua Cistern, Batu Caves, Selangor. Sebahagian daripada gua ini dilitupi endapan breksia berbutir halus, kasar dan berpebel, bercampur aduk dengan fosil mamalia yang melekat pada dinding dan siling gua. Sejumlah 39 spesimen gigi dan serpihan rahang Murinae telah ditemui bersama pelbagai fosil mamalia besar dan kecil yang lain. Kajian terhadap perbandingan morfologi dan saiz menunjukkan bahawa fosil gigi ini terdiri daripada spesies yang telah pupus dan yang masih hidup di Semenanjung Malaysia serta negara yang berdekatan. Spesies yang telah dikenal pasti adalah Chiropodomys gliroides, Leopoldamys sabanus, Leopoldamys minutus, Maxomys whiteheadi, Maxomys rajah dan Rattus rattus. Hampir semua spesies fosil yang telah dikenal pasti merupakan fauna yang hidup di sekitaran hutan tanah rendah.

Kata kunci: Fosil gua; kuaterner; Murinae; Semenanjung Malaysia

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*Corresponding author; email: rosfmuhammad@um.edu.my