New phiocricetomyine rodents (Hystricognathi) from the Jebel Qatrani Formation, Fayum Depression, Egypt.

Background: The rich rodent assemblages from the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the Jebel Qatrani Formation (Fayum Depression, Egypt) have important implications for our understanding of the origin and paleobiogeography of Hystricognathi, a diverse clade that is now represented by the Afro-Asiatic Hystricidae, New World Caviomorpha, and African Phiomorpha.

Methods: Here we present previously undescribed material of the enigmatic hystricognath clade Phiocricetomyinae, from two stratigraphic levels in the lower sequence of the Jebel Qatrani Formation-a new genus and species () from the latest Eocene Locality 41 (~34 Ma, the oldest and most productive quarry in the formation) and additional material of from that species' type locality, early Oligocene Quarry E (~31-33.2 Ma).