Les Spatangus du Miocène et du Pliocène de l’Ouest de la France

Numerous fragments of spatangoid echinoids have been discovered in the Pliocene deposits of Challans, in Vendée (western France). In spite of the fragmentary data of the samples, a reconstitution of a complete test could be realized using the different fragments and their symetrization. The general shape of the test, and its architectural and ornemental characters allow establishing the presence of the genus Spatangus in western France during the end of Neogene. It allows to precise the biogeography of the genus Spatangus and of the morphological group S. (S.) purpureus on the Atlantic coast after the Messinian crisis. The Pliocene species is compared to the Miocene Spatangus (Phymapatagus) brittanus, abundant in Anjou, Brittany and Touraine. This older species was refered to the subgenus Phymapatagus according to the presumed lack of primary tubercles on its posterior interambulacrum. The discovery of well-preserved specimens, with primary tubercles on every parts of the test, in the Middle Miocene of Brittany allows to refute this subgeneric distinction and to refer the species brittanus to the subgenus Spatangus (Spatangus). The presence of this subgenus in western France is finally confirmed from Middle Miocene to Pliocene.     

Les Cervidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) du Pléistocène supérieur-Holocène ancien de la région du Parc National Serra da Capivara (Piauí, Brésil)

The Upper Pleistocene/Lower Holocene fossil-bearing sites of the Serra da Capivara National Park Region have yielded three cervid species: Mazama gouazoubira, M. americana and Blastocerus dichotomus, all currently living in South America, the two first in the region. A grand total of more than one hundred remains demonstrates the presence of Mazama gouazoubira in seven sites, mainly the Toca das Moendas, the Toca do Serrote do Artur, the Toca da Cima dos Pilão. This small species shows, since the Upper Pleistocene, a conspicuous tendency to reduce the average dimensions of its teeth and long bones. From the taller M. americana, only a dozen of remains were found in four sites, mainly the Sitio do Meio. In all of these it is sympatric with M. gouazoubira. It differs from this last one by its cheek teeth and its limb bones size and proportions. The oldest site where the species is known is Tarija (Bolivia, Middle Pleistocene) and it does not show any significant changes in size and proportions between recent and fossil samples. Sixteen remains of the large B. dichotomus were found in five sites, mainly the Toca das Moendas and the Toca da Barra do Antonião. The species is a rare fossil, but is frequently figured in the rock art painting of the region, where it is presently unknown.     

Smilodon populator et Protocyon troglodytes, deux superprédateurs du Pléistocène supérieur de la Serra da Capivara (Piauí) au Nordeste du Brésil

Among the fossiliferous sites of the Serra da Capivara national park region (South Eastern Piauí), two have yielded interesting remains of the two large Upper Pleistocene Carnivora, Protocyon troglodytes (Lund, 1838) and Smilodon populator Lund, 1842, the Toca da Cima dos Pilão and the Toca das Moendas, both in the municipality of Coronel José Dias. In these two caverns, numerous remains of preys were found, namely, for the Toca da Cima dos Pilão, the two peccaries Dicotyles tajacu and Tayassu pecari, the medium sized ground sloth Catonyx cuvieri and the giant armadillo Pampatherium; for the Toca das Moendas Palaeolama, Equids and Cervids add to that list. The two sites were used as dens by the two Carnivora species. In the Toca das Moendas, a near complete adult skull and a hemimandible of the large Canid P. troglodytes were found. The skull is the third ever known for the species. Its dimensions are very similar to those of a complete skull from the Toca da Boa Vista (Campo Formoso, Bahia, Brazil) described by Cartelle et Langguth (1999), and to those of an incomplete skull from the banks of the Bermejo River (Formosa Province, Argentina), described by Prevosti et al. (2005). It fits perfectly, like the teeth, with the anatomical characteristics of the species P. troglodytes: wide muzzle, short palate, very reduced and forwardly offset protocone of the P4/, etc. The dimensions of the cheek teeth correspond well with those of numerous teeth from Lagoa Santa (Minas Gerais, Brazil) of the Lund Collection preserved in the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen. The same site of Toca das Moendas yielded two left hemimandibles of the Machairodontine S. populator Lund, 1842, an adult and a very young ones. We study them together with other remarkable remains from the Toca da Cima dos Pilão, namely an adult upper canine and an adult hemimandible. The upper canine is one of the longest ever described for S. populator. The P/4 are somewhat longer than those of the Californian Smilodon fatalis (Leidy, 1868), and the M/1 are about of the same average length but somewhat narrower. The segment P/4-M/1 is relatively short. The dimensions of the upper canine and of the lower cheek teeth fit well with those of some teeth from Lagoa Santa (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and from Argentina preserved in the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen. We describe particularly the decidual lower dentition, badly known in that species. The rather weak milk canine has a piriform outline. The D/3 is constituted by a strong protoconid flanked with two small cuspids, an anterior and a posterior ones. The D/4 (deciduous carnassial) shows a strong paraconid followed by a higher protoconid and a small posterior cuspid. These milk teeth, without any abrasion mark, suggest that our young specimen was less than three month old.     

Description d’un bassin fragmentaire de Paranthropus robustus du site Plio-Pléistocène de Drimolen (Afrique du Sud)

The Plio-Pleistocene site of Drimolen (Gauteng Province, South Africa) has yielded a fragmentary adult pelvis, DNH 43, composed of a robust, right innominate bone (DNH 43B) associated with the sacrum and the posterior arch of the last lumbar vertebra (DNH 43 A). Comparisons with other Plio-Pleistocene hominids (AL 288.1, Sts 14, Sts 65, Stw 431, TM 1605, SK 50, SK 3155b) pelves have been made which indicate that this specimen belongs to Paranthropus robustus. The ilium of the Drimolen hominid is narrowed just above the acetabulum. The small auricular surface is set far away from the acetabulum. The sacrum is curved, the upper lateral angles are clearly expressed. Some anatomical features reveal a lumbar lordosis in DNH 43. This lumbar lordosis is specific of australopithecines because different from extant human.     

Reconstitution 3D par Computerized-tomography (CT) et endocrâne virtuel du crâne 5 du site de la Sima de Los Huesos (Atapuerca)

The 3d Ct reconstruction and virtual brain endocast of Cranium 5 from the site of “La Sima de los Huesos” (Atapuerca), allows us to get new information to increase the study and knowledge of Homo heidelbergensis population, and to compare this specimen with others in the fossil record, in order to understand the evolutionary process of the brain, focusing on the middle Pleistocene period. Furthermore, we can observe the changes this species (Homo heidelbergensis) has undergone, at least in Sima de los Huesos population making comparative studies with African and Asian middle Pleistocene specimens. We have used the new data to compare European Homo heidelbergensis represented by SH5 with Kabwe, a controversial specimen considered by some authors like the African Homo heidelbergensis representative, in order to establish the similarities and differences between both specimens.     

Les Megacricetodon du gisement karstique miocène moyen de Blanquatère 1 (Pyrénées-Orientales, Sud de la France) : nouvelles espèces, implications biochronologique et phylogénique

Three Megacricetodon species are recognized in the Middle Miocene locality of Blanquatère 1 (Languedoc-Roussillon province, France). Two are new, the small-sized M. tautavelensis nov. sp. the medium to large-sized M. aunayi nov. sp., the third one being the already known M. “collongensis-gersii”, a medium-sized species found in other Miocene localities of the area. Size and morphology differentiate these species. Such a high number of contemporaneous species of the genus Megacricetodon is found for the first time in a Miocene locality in the region and indicate that the evolution of this genus in western Europe is likely more complicated. It may testify both of a biogeographical differentiation and of migration events. According to our calibration charts, the deposit is dated ca. 16 Ma ago. The position of Vieux-Collonges (MN 5) and Sansan (MN 6) on the biochronological scale is also discussed, as well as the estimated age of the biozonal boundaries MN 3/MN 4, MN 4/MN 5 and MN 5/MN 6.     

Nouveau matériel de Leptobos (Smertiobos) crassus (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) du Pléistocène inférieur à Renzidong (Chine de l’Est)

New remains of Leptobos (Smertiobos) crassus have been identified among the fossils excavated from a new early Pleistocene site at the Renzidong in Anhui Province, Eastern China. It is a Leptobos bearing frontal appendices with a simple curvature and its distal part turns higher than the other species of the subgenus. The present study shows that the first appearance of Leptobos in China is in the zone equivalent to the European MNQ 16b, later than its first appearance in Western Europe (MNQ 16a); and the genus Leptobos can serve as index fossil of the lower Pleistocene in China (2.5-0.78 Ma, Chinese definition).     

Une nouvelle approche pour évaluer l'état de conservation de l'os et du collagène pour les mesures isotopiques (datation au radiocarbone, isotopes stables du carbone et de l'azote)

Measuring the amounts of nitrogen and carbon in small quantities of ancient bones before radiocarbon dating using elemental analysis is a way to quantify the amount of preserved collagen and the quantity of exogenous contaminating carbon. Such a measurement can be performed on a large number of samples and allows to sort out the specimens with the best preserved collagen, those with the most carbon contamination, and eventually to infer relationships between burial conditions and collagen preservation. This approach is most interesting as a preliminary method to use before attempting radiocarbon dating using accelerator mass spectrometry of bone collagen.     

Isotopes stables (C,N) du collagène des mammouths de Mezhyrich (Epigravettien,Ukraine) : implications paléoécologiques

The mammoth steppe ecosystem was characterized by a high diversity in large mammals species distributed on a vast geographical range. The isotopic analyses of the collagen of the faunal remains from this context testified the niche partitioning among large herbivores with a specialization in the types of consumed plants. In the case of the mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), systematic higher abundances in ¹⁵N are found for this species compared to those of other grazers in Eurasia and Alaska during the Upper Palaeolithic. This distinct isotopic signature reflects a specific ecological niche. The analyses of mammoth remains at the Epigravettian site of Mezhyrich (15,000–14,300 conv BP) reveal low abundances in ¹⁵N that are equivalent to those of the associated horses. Thus, the mammoth of Mezhyrich experienced a significant change in their environment and diet that probably led to the loss of their ecological niche. A likely direct competition with other large herbivores and the possible predation by wolves and human populations should be considered for the mammoth of the Ukrainian plains, long before their extirpation from the region.     

Étude taphonomique d’assemblages fauniques de sites à Homo erectus du dôme de Sangiran (Pléistocène moyen,Java central,Indonésie)

Since the sixties, the National Indonesian Center for Archaeological Research, in collaboration with the Gajah Mada University, organizes field excavations on open-air sites in the Sangiran dome, one of the most famous places of palaeoanthropological discoveries in Southeast Asia. That project led to the discovery of Homo erectus more or less fragmentary fossils, and to the collection of numerous mammal fossils in open-air localities such as Tanjung, Sendang Busik, Ngrejeng Plupuh, Grogol Plupuh and Bukuran. Most of the bone assemblages from these sites come from the volcanic-sedimentary Kabuh layers (Early Middle Pleistocene) deposited in a fluvial context. The herbivores dominate the assemblages. The best-represented species are large bovids like Bubalus palaeokerabau or Bibos palaesondaicus and smaller cervids like Axis lydekkeri. The carnivore are very rare, only a Pachycrocuta brevirostris in Bukuran. The taphonomical study of the collections, involving several common and also modern methods, is among the first carried out on Javanese sites. The high degree of fragmentation is attested by the dominance of splinters among the fossils. In most sites, teeth and member extremities (autopodial) prevail. Conservation and fragmentation of fossil bones is not the same at all sites. Water action, either chemical or mechanical, is predominant, regarding the origin and the modification of the assemblages. The climato-edaphic traces like oxides and concretions are well represented on the bone surface. Different methods were applied to study transportation and to document the sites contexts in the frame of the ancient riverine paleogeography. Carnivores are almost absent in the material and traces of their action are rare, only in Bukuran and Ngrejeng. The tools are rare, only a bola in Tanjung 82 and chalcedony flakes in Tanjung 63–64. Anthropic influence is only obvious at Ngebung 2, a site in the west part of the dome, supported by fossil observation and correlated to the occurrence of lithic artefacts. This site was excavated during the 1990’s by a French-Indonesian team and it is a site of comparison for our study. Several analytical methods could be applied for the first time on Pleistocene faunal assemblages from Java, for example, the study of the fragmentation, that of fissuration and the characterization of the fluviatile transport undergone by the fossils.     

Restes humains dans les sédiments du Pléistocène inférieur de la région d'Orce et de Cueva Victoria (sud-est de l'Espagne)

This paper describes the human remains and other evidence of human presence (lithic artifacts) located in the early Pleistocene deposits of Orce and Cueva Victoria (SE Spain). We also discuss the age of those sites.     

Fimbria lohani (Mollusca : Bivalvia) nomen novum pro Fimbria subpectunculus (d’Orbigny, 1850) du Lutétien (Éocène moyen) du bassin de Paris,nom préoccupé

Fimbria lohani (Mollusca: Bivalvia) nom. nov. pro Fimbria subpectunculus (d’ Orbigny, 1850) from the Lutetian (Middle Eocene) of Paris basin, name preoccupied. The names Fimbria magna ( Anton, 1838) and Fimbria subpectunculus (d’ Orbigny, 1850) are nomenclaturally invalid to designate the species from the Lutetian (Middle Eocene) of the Paris Basin. Fimbria lohani nom. nov. is proposed here as a replacement to correct the homonymy Corbis subpectunculus d’ Orbigny, 1850 non d’ Archiac, 1850.     

Zonocypris digitalis (Ostracoda, Crustacea), nouvelle espèce du Fuvélien (Campanien continental) de Provence (sud-est France)

Many specimens of non-marine Ostracodes, especially the new species Zonocypris digitalis were recovered from continental deposits of fuvelian (Campanian) age at Auriol (Provence, south-east France). First species of that genus described in the Cretaceous of southern Europe, Z. digitalis is associated with Charophytes and mainly Gastropodes remains, thus providing confirmation of the datation proposed and age of the studied outcrops. Z. digitalis may be integrated within the current biostratigraphic scale which is accepted as valid for the non-marine Upper Cretaceous of the above mentioned area.     

Heterosteginapapyracea Seguenza du Miocène du Corridor Sud-Rifain (Maroc) : biométrie et particularités paléoécologiques

Biometric study of the inner features of Heterostegina specimens preserved in tortonian sediments of the oued Yhoudi member allows to confirm the presence of species Heterostegina papyracea Seguenza, 1880. Analysis of both large and small components of the foraminiferal assemblage in all examined samples establishes the dominant character of species Heterostegina papyracea Seguenza (more than 60% of total benthic foraminifera). The assemblage of small benthic foraminifera associated with the Heterostegina is different from that described from Recent sediments, as well as from Miocene sediments of Calabria and Spain. In order to explain this result, two hypotheses can be put forward: (1) the Tortonian Heterostegina from Morocco proliferated abundantly in very shallow environments in association with small foraminifera (i.e. abundant Ammonia beccarii). (2) Because of powerful tidal currents in the South Rifian Corridor, Heterostegina tests were probably transferred after death. This transfer could possibly be due to the narrowness of the South Rifian Corridor in the Early Late Tortonian and its position between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Similar cases foraminiferal displacements are also known from modern basins. This study illustrates the difficulties in reconstructing the paleogeography of the studied area and the importance of considering all available components of the assemblage.     

Les sciuridés des gisements karstiques du Miocène inférieur à moyen du sud de la France : nouvelles espèces, phylogénie, paléoenvironnement

We describe sciurids from Lower and Middle Miocene karstic sites located in the south of France. Four new taxa are recognized here: Atlantoxerus martini nov. sp., Atlantoxerus sp. 1, Freudenthalia cuencae nov. sp. and Aragoxerus nov. sp. The last two genera are recognized for the first time in the south of France. A comparison with the Iberian peninsula is carried out, it tackles the problems of diversity, phylogeny and settlement. Hypothesis concerning the predation of these terrestrial squirrels and paleoenvironment is proposed.     

Biochronologie et corrélation des bassins néogènes du Couloir sud-rifain (Maroc) fondées sur les évènements de foraminifères planctoniques et de nannofossiles calcaires

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of planktonic foraminifera (completed by calcareous nannofossils in some localities) from 8 sections and boreholes located in 7 Neogene basins of the South Rifian Corridor (Morocco) enable us to identify 16 bioevents calibrated with the geomagnetic polarity time scale. These events are useful for (1) assigning the sediments to the Tortonian (bioevents 1 to 7), the Messinian (bioevents 9 to 14, the event 8 indicates the Tortonian/Messinian boundary), the Early Pliocene (bioevent 15) and the Middle Pliocene (bioevent 16), (2) establishing high resolution correlations between the sections and boreholes studied herein, (3) locating the South Rifian Corridor sections and boreholes within the framework of biostratigraphic events recognized during the latest ten years in time-equivalent Atlantic and Mediterranean sequences, and (4) estimating the variation of sedimentation rates in the studied basins. With respect to Morocco, previous detailed studies concerned only the Rabat area (Bou Regreg valley) and Guercif basin. Our results extend correlations to the other basins of the South Rifian Corridor, a key area to understand connections between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea at the end of the Miocene.     

Charophytes, indicateurs de paléobathymétrie du lac Tigalmamine (Moyen Atlas, Maroc)

A paleolimnological study can be particularly accurate in situations where the species found in the sediments have persisted in the same lake and can provide a direct modern analogue for interpretation. Lake Tigalmamine, thus, represents an exceptionally favourable context, compared to most paleolakes in North Africa, as this site allows comparing the fossil remains of the Characeae to those produced by the living plants. Tigalmamine is a hydrosystem composed of three karstic lakes located at 1626 m above sea level in the Middle Atlas of Morocco. The site had been the subject of a 16 m long core taken in the center of the central lake under 16 m of water (core C 86 in Lamb and Kaars, 1995 [The Holocene 5 (1995) 400-408]). The section represents the total of the Holocene from 10,200 BP to Present (El Hamouti et al., 1991 [Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences de Paris 2 (1991) 259-265]; Lamb et al., 1995 [Nature 373 (1995) 134-137]). The latter published a synthesis of the pluridisciplinary studies conducted on this core. Also, the numerous gyrogonites isolated from that core had been determined as Chara hispida (Soulié-Märsche in Benkaddour, 1993 [Changements hydrologiques et climatiques dans le Moyen-Atlas marocain : chronologie, minéralogie, géochimie isotopique et élémentaire des sédiments lacustres de Tigalmamine. PhD thesis, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay (inédit)]). Further fieldwork at Tigalmamine by the authors of the present paper in year 2000 showed that Chara hispida is still present in the lake where it forms a belt of submerged vegetation restricted to the range of 2 to 9 m water depth. This paper describes the morphological and ecological characteristics of the extant Chara hispida as a reference for the interpretation of the fossil remains. Based on these data, the frequency changes of the gyrogonites in the core sediments become significant in terms of bathymetry. The detailed analysis of the charophytes from the core, as a complement to the previous studies, confirms the existence of four Holocene phases with lake level low stand at Tigalmamine. The aim of the present study is to enhance the value of the charophytes as a useful complementary tool for paleolimnological reconstruction.