Dental Replacement in Nesophontidae (Lipotyphla, Mammalia) from the Pleistocene of Cuba.

The presence of deciduous premolars and erupting C1, P2, P4, I1, I2, I3, P2, and P4 in Nesophontidae is established for the first time on the fossil remains of Nesophontes major Arredondo, 1970, and N. micrus Allen, 1917 from El Abrón Cave (Republic of Cuba, Pinar del Río Province, Late Pleistocene). During ontogenesis, the replacement of teeth (except P1 and P1) occurred after the molar eruption, but before the animal reached adult size. By the dental replacement pattern nesophontids differ from most members of Lipotyphla and are close to Solenodontidae.