Thanks are due to Drs P. Mein and M. Hugueney (Lyon) for discussing the classification of the Gargano glirids. Dr G. Storch (Frankfurt) gave valuable information on extant Myomimus. Dr F. Gonzalez Lodeiro helped to get information on the geology of S. Italy. We want to thank to Dr I. Sanchez Almazo for making the photographs.

We highly appreciate the effort of two anonymous reviewers, who greatly improved this paper.

This study was executed within the project CGL2005-03159/BTE, 'El factor energético y los patrones de evolución en mamíferos insulares y domésticos' of the Spanish 'Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia'.