Revision of the fossil vole assemblage (Mammalia,Rodentia, Arvicolidae) from Pleistocene deposits at Kisláng,Hungary

Abstract: The species‐rich fossil vertebrate assemblage from Pleistocene sedimentary deposits at Kisláng, Hungary, was originally described as containing eight species of arvicolids, six of which were considered new. Re‐examination of the material in the collection of the Hungarian Geological Institute, consisting of most of the previously described material, including the six name‐bearing types and also further undescribed specimens, indicates that the taxa Kislangia rex, Mimomys cf. hassiacus, Mimomys coelodus, Mimomys pusillus, Mimomys tornensis, Pitymimomys sp., Borsodia newtoni, Lagurodon arankae and Allophaiomys deucalion are present. Most of these species are compatible with Early Pleistocene age close to the boundary between the Villányian and Biharian regional stages (MQR10, MQ1, c. 1.6–2.0 Ma). However, the specimen of Mimomys cf. hassiacus is of approximately mid‐Pliocene age (MN15 c. 3.6–4.0 Ma), and one of the Pitymimomys specimens is referable to P. stenokorys, described from the earliest Pleistocene (MNR2–MNR3, MN17 c. 2.3–2.4 Ma). The assemblage is therefore interpreted as derived from at least three different geological periods and because of reworking of material is considered unusable to characterize any particular stratigraphic level. These conclusions are placed in the context of historical and current biostratigraphies.     

The early/late Pliocene ichthyofauna from Koro-Toro, Eastern Djurab, Chad

This is the first extensive study of a freshwater fish fauna from the Pliocene site of Koro-Toro (Chad), aged 3.58 ± 0.27 Ma. The assemblage includes an abafish (Mormyriformes, Gymnarchidae: Gymnarchus), a tigerfish (Characiformes, Alestidae: Hydrocynus), six different catfishes (Siluriformes, Ariidae: Carlarius; Bagridae: Bagrus; Claroteidae: Clarotes and Auchenoglanis; Mochokidae: Synodontis; Clariidae: Clarias or Heterobranchus), perciform fishes (Perciformes, Latidae: Lates sp. cf. niloticus, and Cichlidae indet.), and a pufferfish (Tetraodontidormes, Tetraodontidae: Tetraodon). The diversity is relatively low when compared with other Chadian Neogene sites. This is probably mostly explained by the wind erosion of the outcrops being responsible for the lack of minute remains. However, we recognize that the aquatic environment recorded corresponds to open waters.     

The fossil Bovidae (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel: Out of Africa during the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition

We report the study of the collection of fossil bovid specimens from the Early-Middle Pleistocene Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov. This locality, situated in the Levantine Corridor (the bottleneck that connects Africa and Eurasia) is a key site to explain the faunal and human dispersals out of Africa during the Matuyama/Brunhes boundary around 0.8 Ma. Two species of bovine (Bos sp., and Bovini gen. et sp. indet. cf. Bison sp.), one antelope (Gazella sp. cf. G. Gazella), and another indeterminate Bovidae gen. et sp. indet., have been recorded. The largest species, Bos sp., is an African immigrant related to the species from the Eritrean site of Buia, Bos buiaensis, which evolved from the buffalo of Olduvai Pelorovis oldowayensis, and colonized the Eurasian continent in parallel with the dispersal of the Acheulian culture into the northern continent. Numerous important species first recorded in several localities of Early-Middle Pleistocene transition from Eurasia are included in this dispersal out of Africa, including the megaherbivore, Palaeoloxodon antiquus, and the carnivores Crocuta crocuta, and later, Panthera leo and Panthera pardus. This faunal turnover is coincident with the change to colder climates that dominated the Middle Pleistocene.     

Brachiopods and other fossils from the Permo-Triassic boundary beds of the Antalya Nappes (SW Taurus, Turkey)

An uppermost Permian-Lower Triassic biota of brachiopods, conodonts, algae and foraminifers from the Pamucak and Kokarkuyu formations at Çürük Da? (Antalya, Turkey) is here described. The brachiopods belong to two different assemblages: a lower assemblage, early Wuchiapingian in age, with Spinomarginifera cf. S. helica, Spinomarginifera cf. S. iranica, Alatorthotetina sp. ind., Orthothetina sp. ind., Ombonia antalyensis nov. sp. and few specimens of Pennospiriferinoidea; an upper assemblage, Changhsingian in age, comprising S. cf. S. iranica, Spinomarginifera cf. S. spinosocostata, Spinomarginifera sp. ind. and Orthothetina sp. ind., characteristic taxa of the low diversity survival brachiopod faunas of latest Permian age (Survival Fauna 1). The occurrence of the conodont Hindeodus cf. praeparvus above the brachiopod fauna confirms its Changhsingian age. The oolitic grainstones at the top of the Pamucak Formation contain Permocalculus sp., Macroporella cf. apachena, species of Hemigordius and Palaeozoic Lagenida. Coarse calcite fibrous cements pervade the oo-bioclastic grainstones, suggesting early marine cementation. The base of the Kokarkuyu Formation is characterized by the disaster forms Earlandia amplimuralis and “Cornuspira” mahajeri, gastropods and ostracods. The conodont Isarcicella lobata has been recovered 31 m above the base of the Kokarkuyu Formation, indicating the occurrence of the second Triassic conodont zone above the parvus biozone and below the staeschei biozone. The faunal content at the transition of the Pamucak and Kokarkuyu formations records the biotic survival in the aftermath of the end-Permian extinction. Facies evolution from lower energy inner platform wackestones and packstones to higher energy open platform oolitic grainstones indicates a transgression at the top of the Pamucak Formation, which continues into the Lower Triassic Kokarkuyu Formation.     

A new Ruscinian site in Europe: Baza-1 (Baza basin,Andalusia, Spain)

The Guadix–Baza depression (southeastern Spain) preserves one of the best continental Plio-Pleistocene records of the European continent. The new site, Baza-1, is the first Ruscinian locality with fauna of large vertebrates known in the basin. During the summer seasons of 2001, 2002, 2015 and 2016, systematic excavations were undertaken in the site over an area of 25 m², which provided > 400 fossil remains of Ruscinian mammals. The faunal assemblage is diverse, comprising 17 genera. Rodentia are represented by Ruscinomys sp., Apocricetus barrierei, Debruijnimys julii, Apodemus gorafensis, Castillomys gracilis, Occitanomys cf. brailloni, Paraethomys meini, Paraethomys aff. abaigari, Stephanomys cordii, Trilophomys cf. castroi and Eliomys aff. intermedius. Large mammals are represented by two proboscideans, Anancus arvernensis and Mammut borsoni, the rhino Stephanorhinus sp. cf. S. jeanvireti, the equid cf. Hipparion sp., two bovids, a large sized Alephis sp. and a small-to-middle sized Bovidae indet. (cf. Antilope sp.), and a middle sized deer, Cervinae indet. This record is completed by the presence of a chelonid, Testudinae indet. Biostratigraphic data from micro and macromammals suggest an age for the assemblage between 4 and 4.5 Ma.     

A new Miocene local fauna from the Sierra Madre Oriental at San Luis Potosí, Central-East Mexico,and its paleontologic significance

Mexico's Late Neogene mammal faunas are largely known from localities in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt; those from other morphotectonic provinces are few and far apart. Thus, the discovery of Late Miocene vertebrates in western Sierra Madre Oriental at San Luis Potosí, the Paso del Águila local fauna, significantly adds to this meager record. The assemblage was collected from the floodplain facies of the San Nicolás Formation, a ∼1100-m thick, dominantly fluviolacustrine and calcilithitic, 15°–20° NE dipping sequence preserved in the Peotillos-Tolentino Graben, between 22°11’–22°19’ N and 100°30’–100°39° W. It includes remains of cf. Trachemys, a small to medium-sized emydid chelonian, a large camelid, a small cervid and a new species of the equini Pliohippus s.s., comparable in size, cranial morphology and odontographic characters to the Clarendonian-Early Hemphillian horses of the Pliohippus clade. Ar-Ar dates from ash-fall tuffs seemingly above and below the fossiliferous strata, bracket the age between 12.33 and 7.41 Ma (i.e., late Middle to Late Miocene), that is, within the Late Clarendonian-Early Hemphillian NALMA interval, making this fauna the first in Mexico from this age. The Paso del Águila local fauna is at least partly correlative with the Hemphillian local faunas from the TMVB and adjacent areas (e.g., Rancho El Ocote, Guanajuato and Tecolotlán, Jalisco), the Central Plateau (e.g., Arroyo Los Fragmentos, Zacatecas), and the Sierra Madre Occidental (e.g., Yepómera). Elsewhere, it is broadly correlative with the Late Clarendonian-Early Hemphillian faunas from the California Coast Ranges (e.g., North Tejon Hills, Ricardo and Dove Springs in the Mohave Desert), and the Gulf Coast Plain, Florida (McGehee Farm and Mixon). The Paso del Águila local fauna was part of a subtropical savannah and pine-oak forest (with a well-developed understory) biome that thrived on a climate regime much more humid than today.     

Les grands mammifères du Villafranchien supérieur des travertins du Bassin de Denizli (Sud-Ouest Anatolie,Turquie)

The large mammals from travertine deposits in the Denizli basin include the following species: Archidiskodon meridionalis meridionalis, Equus cf. altidens s. l., E. cf. apolloniensis, Stephanorhinus cf. etruscus, Metacervoceros rhenanus, Cervalces (Libralces) ex gr. minor-gallicus, Palaeotragus sp., Bovinae gen. and sp. indet. This association resembles those from the late Villafranchian of Southern and Eastern Europe, and, to some extent, fromWestern Asia, and could be older than 1.2 Ma.     

Early Miocene Amphibians (Caudata, Salientia) from the Mokrá-Western Quarry (Czech Republic) with comments on the evolution of Early Miocene amphibian assemblages in Central Europe

The Mokrá-Western Quarry exhibits the rare occurrence of Early Miocene (MN 4) vertebrate fauna within the area of the eastern part of Central Europe. In addition to a rich fauna of reptiles and mammals, two fossiliferous karst joints (Mokrá-Western Quarry, 1/2001 Turtle Joint and Mokrá-Western Quarry, 2/2003 Reptile Joint) yielded a rich fauna of amphibians including 13 amphibian taxa: Salamandridae: Mioproteus sp., Chelotriton sp., type I, Chelotriton sp., type II, Triturus aff. roehrsi, Triturus cf. marmoratus, Triturus sp. (T. cristatus species group), Chioglossa meini, Mertensiella mera, Salamandridae gen. and sp. indet.; Pelobatidae: Pelobates sanchizi; Ranidae: Rana sp. (synklepton Rana esculenta); Bufonidae: Bufo sp. The first records of the West European species Triturus cf. marmoratus and Chioglossa meini are reported from the eastern part of Central Europe indicating the wide distribution of those taxa throughout the whole of Europe as early as MN 4. The oldest known record of Pelobates sanchizi documents the Early Miocene presence of representatives closely related to the extinct Late Oligocene representatives of Pelobates. The slow evolution of amphibian species is documented by the presence of Triturus cf. marmoratus and the oldest known occurrence of the extinct salamander Mertensiella mera.     

Late Aquitanian mammals from Engehalde (Molasse Basin,Canton Bern,Switzerland)

The construction of the Neufeld tunnel in Bern city (2006–2008) led to the discovery of fossil mammals in the vicinity of the historical site of Engehalde. The study of the whole available sample led to the distinction of two mammal assemblages: (1) the historical level with the rhinocerotids Diaceratherium lemanense and D. aginense, and the ruminant Andegameryx cf. laugnacensis; (2) the Neufeld level with the artiodactyls Dremotherium feignouxi and Cainotherium sp., the carnivore Plesiogale angustifrons, and the glires Eucricetodon cf. aquitanicus, Peridyromys sp., and Prolagus vasconiensis. These two assemblages attest to a latest Aquitanian age (MN2b) for the last deposits of the ‘Lower Freshwater Molasse’ in the area. The palaeoecological analysis of the faunas indicates either the co-occurrence or the very short-termed succession of assorted terrestrial environments, ranging from forested habitats nearby water bodies or nearby steady rivers to open well-drained habitats within the hinterland.     

Late Miocene lagomorphs from the Republic of Moldova

The aim of this paper is to enlarge knowledge about still poorly documented and understood record of Lagomorpha (Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Moldova. The lagomorph material from two new Late Miocene localities, Razeni (MN11/12), Gradishte (MN12), and re-sampling locality Chimislyia (MN12), of Southern Moldova, is described in detail here. The localities yielded small vertebrate fauna including five lagomorph taxa: Prolagus cf. oeningensis, “Proochotona” cf. eximia, Alilepus laskarewi, “Proochotona” sp., and Alilepus sp. P. cf. oeningensis is described for the first time in the studied area. A short review of the lagomorph record from the Republic of Moldova is provided. This contribution outlines the importance of the lagomorphs for biostratigraphic purposes, and highlighs the gaps in our knowledge related to the faunal succession in this area.     

Miocene mammalian faunas from Wushan,China and their evolutionary,biochronological, and biogeographic significances

We report Miocene mammalian faunas from three nearby localities: Kangping, Nanyu, and Yangping, in the Wushan Subbasin, Gansu Province, China. From the Kangping locality, we identified four species, Platybelodon grangeri, Hispanotherium wushanense n. sp., Kubanochoerus sp., and Turcocerus cf. kekemaidengensis, which indicate that this fauna can be correlated with MN7/8. From the Nanyu locality, we identified Platybelodon aff. tongxinensis, which, together with the previously reported specimens of Gomphotherium wimani and Micromeryx cf. flourensianus, enables us to correlate this fauna with MN6. The Yangping locality is found to be early Miocene in age based on the presence of cf. Gomphotherium sp. This occurrence is the earliest record of proboscideans in China, and thus represents the “Proboscidean Datum Event”. Evolutionary trends of Platybelodon and Hispanotherium are figured and discussed. The possibility of a geographic boundary associated with the eastern and western differentiation of species of Turcocerus and bunodont listriodonts in China is also evaluated. This boundary was consistent with the major division of the eastern and western mammalian faunas of the middle Miocene in China. The localities in Inner Mongolia suggest a large area with transitional habitats.     

The mammal fauna from the late Early Biharian site of Castagnone (Northern Monferrato, Piedmont, NW Italy)

Small and large mammals associated in Early Pleistocene floodplain sediments outcropping near Castagnone (Cerrina Valley, northern Monferrato Hills, Piedmont, NW Italy) are here examined, with particular emphasis on the voles. The micromammal assemblage includes Talpa sp., Sciurus cf. S. warthae, Mimomys savini, Mimomys pusillus, Microtus (Allophaiomys) cf. M. (A.) nutiensis, Ungaromys cf. U. nanus, Apodemus mystacinus, Leporidaeindert. and the associated macrofauna lists the following generic Galerian components: Stephanorhinus cf. S. hundsheimensis, Sus sp., Hippopotamus sp., Capreolus sp. and other Cervidae indet. (a fallow-deer and a megacerine), Bison sp. and Elephantidae indet. Due to the co-occurrence of U. nanus and an evolutionary advanced form of Allophaiomys with the normal paleomagnetic polarity of the embedding sediments, this faunal assemblage can be biochronologically dated to the late Early Biharian within the Jaramillo subchron.     

Biometry of Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Maastrichtian) coccoliths – a record of long-term stability and interspecies size shifts

Biometric measurements of Mesozoic coccoliths (coccolith length and width) have been used in short-term biostratigraphic, taxonomic and palaeoecologic studies, but until now, not over longer time scales. Here, we present a long time-series study (∼ 30 million years) for the Upper Cretaceous, which aims to identify broad trends in coccolith size and to understand the factors governing coccolith size change over long time scales. We have generated biometric data for the dominant Upper Cretaceous coccolith groups, Broinsonia/Arkhangelskiella, Prediscosphaera, Retecapsa and Watznaueria, from 36 Cenomanian–Maastrichtian (100.5–66 Ma) samples from Goban Spur in the northeast Atlantic (DSDP Site 549). These data show that the coccolith sizes within Prediscosphaera, Retecapsa and Watznaueria were relatively stable through the Late Cretaceous, with mean size variation less than 0.7 μm. Within the Broinsonia/Arkhangelskiella group there was more pronounced variation, with a mean size increase from ∼ 6 μm in the Cenomanian to ∼ 10 μm in the Campanian. This significant change in mean size was largely driven by evolutionary turnover (species origination and extinctions), and, in particular, the appearance of larger species/subspecies (Broinsonia parca parca, Broinsonia parca constricta, Arkhangelskiella cymbiformis) in the early Campanian, replacing smaller species, such as Broinsonia signata and Broinsonia enormis. Shorter-term size fluctuations within Broinsonia/Arkhangelskiella, observed across the Late Cenomanian–Turonian and Late Campanian–Maastrichtian intervals, may, however, reflect changing palaeoenvironmental conditions, such as sea surface temperature and nutrient availability.     

Ediacaran acanthomorphic acritarchs from the Outer Krol Belt,Lesser Himalaya,India: Their significance for global correlation

Large acanthomorphic acritarchs have been previously reported from the Ediacaran successions of the Pachmunda and Krol Hill synclines in the Outer Krol Belt of Lesser Himalaya, India. Thin sections of chert from Krol ‘A’ Formation in Khanog and Rajgarh synclines, Outer Krol Belt, record an equally well developed and diversified assemblage of Ediacaran large acanthomorphic acritarchs. This assemblage contains specimens belonging to seven genera and ten species, identified as: Appendisphaera fragilis, A. grandis, Asterocapsoides sp. A, Asterocapsoides sp. B, Cavaspina acuminata, C. basiconica, Eotylotopalla dactylos, Knollisphaeridium sp., Papillomembrana sp., and Weissiella cf. grandistella. It also contains five unnamed forms, viz. A, B, C, D, and E. The Krol acritarch assemblage shows a close resemblance with the Upper Doushantuo or Tanarium anozos–Tanarium conoideum assemblage of China. However, the absence of biostratigraphically important markers such as Tanarium anozos and T. conoideum from the Krol assemblage, so far, makes it difficult to establish a definite biostratigraphic correlation between the two assemblages. The current observations from this new locality provide additional data for regional and global biostratigraphic correlation, and significantly increase the purview of Ediacaran sequences for global biostratigraphic zonation.     

Systematic revision of the Late Miocene sabre‐toothed felid Paramachaerodus in Spain

Abstract: A systematic revision of the sabre‐toothed cat genus Paramachaerodus  Pilgrim, 1913 is presented. Two species are recognized within Paramachaerodus, Pa. orientalis, and Pa. maximiliani, and the genus Promegantereon  Kretzoi, 1938 is retrieved to include Promegantereon ogygia. Material from the Turolian Spanish localities of Crevillente‐2 (MN 11, Alicante) and Las Casiones (MN 13, Teruel), which was previously assigned to Paramachaerodus, is now included in the tribe Metailurini. The exceptional discoveries at the Spanish Vallesian (MN 10, Madrid) fossil site of Batallones‐1 have made it possible to characterize the dentition and cranial anatomy of a previously very poorly known machairodontine cat, formerly included in Paramachaerodus as Pa. ogygia, which now can be distinguished from Pa. orientalis and Pa. maximiliani by the following features: canines without crenulations, P3 with a marked disto‐lingual expansion, P4 without ectostyle and with a well‐developed protocone, M1 bucco‐lingually elongated and double‐rooted, m1 with a larger talonid, and primitive mandible morphology. Thus, the population from Batallones‐1 constitutes a clearly different form from the genus Paramachaerodus, and we propose its inclusion in the genus Promegantereon  Kretzoi, 1938 , together with an upper canine from Crevillente‐2 (MN 11), very similar to those from Batallones‐1. In contrast, Pa. orientalis shows the following apomorphies: crenulated canines, P3 reduced in size and without disto‐lingual expansion, P4 with a clear ectostyle as well as a reduced, backwardly displaced protocone and with a rounded and single‐rooted M1. The species Pa. maximiliani is characterized by its slightly larger size, crenulated canines, very elongated P3 with a moderate disto‐lingual expansion and P4 and M1 similar to those of Pa. orientalis. Paramachaerodus orientalis is recorded at Puente Minero (MN 11, Teruel), Concud (MN 12, Teruel), Crevillente‐15, and Crevillente‐16 (both MN 12, Alicante), and Paramachaerodus maximiliani in Venta del Moro (MN 13, Valencia). The available data suggest that Pr. ogygia was present in the Iberian Late Vallesian and Early Turolian faunas (MN 10 and MN 11) but disappeared after that age. Paramachaerodus was present in the faunas throughout the Turolian, with the species Pa. orientalis and Pa. maximiliani, this latter being probably part of the same immigration event that occurred in the Late Turolian and involved other mammal taxa such as camelids and ursids.     

Palaeoenvironments of Early Miocene hominoid-bearing deposits at Napak,Uganda, based on terrestrial molluscs

Studies of fossil molluscs from Early Miocene deposits at Napak, Uganda, reveal that between 20 and 18.5 Ma, there were various kinds of palaeoenvironments on the flanks of the volcano ranging from forest to open country. The basal Iriri Member contains fluvial deposits from which freshwater gastropods and bivalves have been collected. The younger Napak Member is subaerial in facies, and has yielded a predominantly forest assemblage of gastropods, but with some indications of open country species at one of the sites. Napak has yielded a rich and diverse primate fauna, including the large ape Ugandapithecus major, the small ape Micropithecus clarki, the earliest known cercopithecid in the world (Prohylobates sp.) and several galagids (Mioeuoticus bishopi) among other less well-known taxa.     

A new small mammal assemblage from the M013 Terre Rosse fissure filling (Gargano,South-Eastern Italy)

The taxonomic study of the small mammal assemblage from fissure M013, sampled by a team of the University of Torino during the 2005–2009 excavations in the Dell’Erba Quarry (Apricena, Foggia) is presented. The assemblage includes the Echinosoricinae Apulogalerix cf. pusillus and the Crocidosoricinae ?Lartetium cf. dehmi; the Myomiminae species Stertomys simplex and Stertomys lyrifer; a new genus and species of Cricetodontinae and a single specimen of Hattomys cf. nazarii. Muridae include Mikrotia cf. parva, Mikrotia sp. 1 and a new genus and species of Murinae, phylogenetically related to Mikrotia. The occurrence of the new Murinae, the new Cricetodontinae, the two species of glirids and the Crocidosoricinae, as well as the absence of Apodemus and Prolagus, indicates M013 as the oldest Gargano's faunal assemblage known to date, despite the occurrence of Hattomys cf. nazarii, Mikrotia cf. parva and Mikrotia sp. 1, which most probably results from infiltrations from younger fissure fillings. The M013 assemblage is an absolute novelty for the Abruzzo-Apulian Palaeobioprovince, opening new perspectives for the timing and mode of dispersal of the forerunners of the Gargano fauna.     

The decapod community from the Early Pliocene (Zanclean) of “La Serra” quarry (San Miniato,Pisa, Toscana,central Italy): sedimentology,systematics, and palaeoenvironmental implications

We report an unusual and rich decapod crustacean assemblage from the early Pliocene (Zanclean), recently collected during the excavations of the “La Serra” quarry, located in La Serra, near San Miniato, Pisa (Toscana, central Italy). The studied specimens have been assigned, as follows: Axius sp., Callianassa chalmasii Brocchi, 1883, and Calliaxina cf. C. punica ( de Saint Laurent and Manning, 1982) (infraorder Axiidea de Saint Laurent, 1979); Gebiacantha tuscia Garassino, Pasini, De Angeli and Charbonnier sp. nov. (infraorder Gebiidea de Saint Laurent, 1979); Pagurus alatus Fabricius, 1775, and Pagurus sp. (infraorder Anomura MacLeay, 1838); Dromia neogenica Müller, 1978, Dromia sp., Medorippe cf. M. ampla Garassino, De Angeli, Gallo and Pasini, 2004, Ilia nucleus ( Linnaeus, 1758), Ristoria pliocaenica (Ristori, 1891), Pisa armata ( Latreille, 1803), Macropodia sp., Maja squinado (Herbst, 1788), Derilambrus angulifrons ( Latreille, 1825), Atelecyclus undecimdentatus (Herbst, 1783), Liocarcinus sp., Thalamita italica Garassino, Pasini, De Angeli and Charbonnier sp. nov., Pilumnus cf. P. hirtellus (Linnaeus, 1761), Eriphia cocchii Ristori, 1886, Goneplax rhomboides ( Linnaeus, 1758), Goneplax sacci Crema, 1895, (infraorder Brachyura Linnaeus, 1758). Moreover, two specimens have been assigned to callianassideans sensu lato and 13 specimens to indeterminate axiideans. Calliaxina Ngoc-Ho, 2003, Gebiacantha Ngoc-Ho, 1989, Ristoria Garassino, Pasini, De Angeli and Charbonnier gen. nov., and Macropodia Leach, 1814, are reported for the first time in the fossil record and the extant Pagurus alatus, Ilia nucleus, Pisa armata, Derilambrus angulifrons, and Pilumnus cf. P. hirtellus, are reported in the fossil record from the Pliocene. Everywhere “La Serra” quarry bio-community is very important, representing one of the richest and most diversified crustacean faunas from the Pliocene reported to date in the Mediterranean basin and worldwide, increasing notably the knowledge on the decapod populations and distribution during the early Pliocene. This community is indicative of a palaeoenvironment of shallow sublittoral water, with sandy-muddy and alternate hard shell bottom, partially covered or in proximity of seagrass, similar to the extant Mediterranean Posidonia beds, mainly inhabited by fossorial and benthonic decapods.     

Remains of Hipparion (Equidae,Perissodactyla) from Puente Minero (Teruel Province,Spain) and their implications for the systematics of the Turolian Hipparionini

Abstract: Morphological and biometrical variability of the equid Hipparion from Puente Minero and other localities from the Teruel Basin, Spain (MN10–MN13), is analysed. Three species of Hipparion are recognized in Puente Minero, H. laromae, H. matthewi and Hipparion sp. cf. H. longipes, through comparison with other Spanish and Eurasian species (Samos, Greece; Höwenegg, Germany; Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, small and large forms; Akka?da?i, Turkey; and the following Spanish sites, La Roma 2, Los Aljezares, Concud, Milagros, Las Casiones and Venta de Moro). The majority of the Hipparion remains from Puente Minero and determined to be Hipparion laromae based on their size and morphology. This interpretation was confirmed by bivariate and multivariate analyses. These results suggest a Eurasian immigration of different Hipparion species into the Teruel Basin.