The Middle Miocene insectivores from Sámsonháza 3 (Hungary, Nógrád County): Biostratigraphical and palaeoenvironmental notes near to the Middle Miocene Cooling

Large and well preserved micro-mammal faunas are available from the Middle Miocene from Hungary, but very little attention was paid on insectivores, although this group provides good palaeoenvironmental and palaeogeographical indication. As a first step we review the material from Sámsonháza 3 (Hungary, Nógrád County), based on both published and new fossils. We report the dimylid Plesiodimylus sp., the soricid cf. Paenelimnoecus sp. and an indeterminate shrew. The erinaceids Parasorex sp. and Lantanotherium sp., and the talpid Desmanodon sp. are described for the first time from Hungarian deposits. The fauna indicates a relatively wet environment and is in agreement with the Middle Badenian correlation proposed on the basis of the rich molluscan fauna of the locality.