Verebilen

Verebilen is an extinct genus of small, insectivorous mammals that lived during the early Miocene epoch, approximately 18 to 16 million years ago. Fossil evidence of Verebilen has been uncovered primarily in the Anatolian region of Turkey, where sedimentary strata of the Ermenek Formation contain well-preserved cranial and postcranial elements. The genus is distinguished by its relatively compressed molariform teeth and elongated snout, suggesting a diet that included soft-bodied insects and possibly larvae.

Verebilen is classified within the order Eulipotyphla, which encompasses modern shrews, moles, and hedgehogs. Comparative morphological analyses indicate that Verebilen shares several synapomorphies with the family Soricidae, though it exhibits unique features such as a reduced maxillary tooth row and a more robust astragalus. Some recent phylogenetic studies propose that Verebilen may represent a basal lineage within Soricidae, potentially offering insights into the early diversification of shrew-like mammals in the Palearctic region.

The discovery of Verebilen has helped paleontologists refine the biogeographic history of Eurasian small mammals. By aligning its morphological traits with those of contemporaneous taxa, researchers have been able to reconstruct aspects of Miocene ecosystems, particularly the forested habitats that supported dense insect populations. While the genus is known from only a handful of specimens, ongoing excavations in Anatolia continue to yield additional material that may further clarify its evolutionary relationships and ecological role.