Bollettino SPI Vol. 40 - Issues 1, 2, 3
Issue 1
Published in April 2001
- Ferretti A. & Schönlaub H.P. (2001)
New conodont faunas from the Late Ordovician of the Centrai Carnic Alps, Austria
pp. 3-15
Conodont faunas recovered from both the Uggwa and Wolayer limestones of the Central Carnic Alps, Austria, documented unequivocally the Amorphognathus ordovicicus Zone. Hamarodus europaeus (Serpagli, 1967), Scabbardella altipes (Henningsmoen, 1948) and Walliserodus amplissimus (Serpagli, 1967) represent some of the characteristic species. The association closely matches in composition and age the conodont material described on the Italian side of the Alps. A younger fauna was recovered immediately above a well-known brachiopod Hirnantia Fauna in the Cellon section, a classic reference for Silurian conodont biostratigraphy. The association keeps a clear Ordovician aspect having its markers in A. cf. A. ordovicicus Branson & Mehl, 1933 and A. lindstroemi (Serpagli, 1967). Elements of “Dichodella-Birksfeldia“, probably corresponding to the distinctive North American Gamachian genus “Gamachignathus“, are well represented. Taxa previously common in colder regimes, such as Sagittodontina and Istorinus, are also present. The abundance and moderate diversity of this fauna, composed of about twenty species, allow a first significant definition of the Hirnantian conodont fauna from the Atlantic Faunal Region.
- Ietto F. & Romano R. (2001)
Middle Triassic age and litho-stratigraphy of the Diplopora marbles from the San Donato Unit auctt. (Catena Costiera, Calabria, Italy)
pp. 17-24
This paper aims to be a contribution toward the chronostratigraphic definition of the lowermost fossiliferous layer of the San Danato Unit aucct. New data have been collected from the Diplopora beds outcropping Northwest of San Donato di Ninea, between the two highs of Monte Cava dell’Oro and Chianette della Tona. These outcrops have supplied a fossil association with well preserved, semi-isolated calcareous skeletons of dasycladaleans. It has been possible to identify four different taxa: Diplopora annulata, Kantia monregalensis, Diplopora sp., Gyroporella cf. maxima. The dasycladalean assemblage is a late Anisian – late Ladinian. During this time the carbonate sedimentation began replacing the silico-clastic deposits with mixed carbonate-siliciclastic facies, which extends until the Carnian (Cornucardia layers).
Dalla Vecchia F.M., Tunis G., Venturini S. & Tarlao A. (2001)
Dinosaur track sites in the upper Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) of lstrian Peninsula (Croatia)
pp. 25-53
Four late Cenomanian sites with dinosaur footprints are here reported from the Istrian coast (NW Croatia). Footprints are preserved in marine limestones of the Cretaceous Adriatic-Dinaric Carbonate Platform. The presence of dinosaurs suggests the existence of emergent areas on the carbonate platform despite the fact that the late Cenomanian is considered an interval of sea level highstand and the geologic evidence of emersion of the platform is very scarce in Istria. The most common dinosaurs are medium-sized bipeds, most probably theropods. Unusually small sauropods are also present in at least two sites. Absence of large predators and large plant-eating dinosaurs could be due to an insular habitat by analogy with the presence of a similar association in the upper Albian of Istria and in agreement with the paleogeographic reconstructions of central Tethys.
- Barra D. & Bonaduce G. (2001)
Some new and poorly known Middle Miocene ostracods of Malta Isle
pp. 55-74
The Upper Langhian – Early Serravallian ostracods of the section Ras-il Pellegrin (Malta Isle) have been studied from systematic point of view. The ostracod fauna is constituted by 78 species, 53 of which have been identified or doubtfully identified. Nineteen species are left in open nomenclature and 6 described and illustrated as new: Austroloecia posterocurva n. sp., Cytherella fovea n. sp., Eucytherura bicornuta n. sp., Monoceratina praeoblita n. sp., Ruggieria caudoflexa n. sp. and Trachyleberidea lanceolata n. sp.
- Aiello G. & Szczechura J. (2001)
An ostracod marker for the Upper Badenian (Miocene) of the Central Paratethys
pp. 75-79
Carinocythereis galilea Ruggieri jiriceki n. ssp. is described from the Upper Badenian of Weglin, Roztocze Region, Southern Poland. Specimens belonging to the new subspecies, in previous literature have been commonly assigned to Carinocythereis carinata (Roemer, 1838). Carinocythereis galilea Ruggieri jiriceki n. ssp. is an important marker for the Upper Badenian shallow water marine sediments of the Central Paratethys.
- Dall’Antonia B. & Bossio A. (2001)
Ostracoda from the lower Messinian of Lampedusa Island: systematics and chronostratigraphical significance
pp. 81-96
The Messinian shallow water marine carbonate succession of Lampedusa Island was extensively sampled. Levels referable to the Capo Grecale Member and the overlying Vallone della Forbice Member yielded abundant and diversified ostracod faunas. Systematic analysis revealed 28 species, of these 5 are left in open nomenclature. Loxoconcha lipadusensis is described herein as new. The recovered ostracod assemblages can be reliably correlated with those known from the pre-evaporitic Messianian shallow water deposits of the Mediterranean. From a paleoecological viewpoint the associations are dominated by shallow marine taxa, while euryhaline and brackish species are more randomly represented. They suggest a nearly normal salinity shallow environment, referable the the upper part of the inner neritic zone.
- Aiello G. & Barra D. (2001)
Pliocene ostracod assembiages at the M PI 3 – M PI 4 boundary in the Capo Rossello borehoie (Agrigento, Sicily)
pp. 97-103
The Ostracoda from 15 samples of Pliocene sediments taken at the M Pl 3 – M Pl 4 boundary in the Punta di Maiata borehole (Agrigento, Italy) have been studied. A quantitative analysis of the Ostracoda suggests the persistence of a good bottom water circulation, as was the case in the lower part of the M Pl 3 Biozone. The Ostracoda reflect a sedimentation depth of about 1000 m. For some of the species found and previously not reported or illustrate from the Mediterranean Pliocene, an iconographic documentation and palaeoecological-taxonomic notes are given.
- Di Canzio E. & Petronio C. (2001)
Remarks on che Pleistocenic vertebrates of Cola Cave (Abruzzo, Central Italy)
pp. 105-114
The vertebrate fauna recovered from the detritical sediments of the Cola Cave (Monte Arunzo, Val Roveto, Abruzzo) is reported. The fossil assemblage consists of birds, reptiles, amphibia as well as several mammals. Ursus spelaeus, Cervus elaphus, and Dama dama are important elements among the macromammals whereas Marmota marmota, Arvicola terrestris and two species of Talpa are particularly significant among the micromammals. The faunal assemblage is referred to a time interval between the Oxygen Isotopic stages 5e and 3 (Pleistocene paleotemperature scale) and to periforestal environment.
Issue 2
Published in June 2001
- Abbazzi L., Bonfiglio L., Marra A.C. & Masini F. (2001)
A revision of medium and small sized deer from the Middle and Late Pleistocene of Calabria and Sicily
pp. 115-126
The remains of Megaceroides calabriae from Middle Pleistocene deposits at locality Bovetto (Southern Calabria) and of Megaceroides carburangelensis from the late Middle and Late Pleistocene locality Cimilla (South-eastern Sicily) are revised. These deer were considered as endemic species of strongly reduced size, related to genus Megaceroides (=Praemegaceros), which evolved in insular environment similarly to the endemic megaceroids from Sardinia, Corsica and Crete, M. cazioti and M. crecensis. The comparison of M. calabriae and M. carburangelensis with representatives of genera Megaceroides and Dama, carried out in the present study, shows that the Calabrian and Sicilian deer belong to Dama. In particular the Calabrian form is comparable with D. dama tiberina, a fallow deer documented in the Italian peninsula during the late Middle Pleistocene (isotopic stage 7 of the δ18O stratigraphy). The results of the present study other than the systematics of Italian cervids involve also the Pleistocene paleobiogeographic reconstructions of Southern Calabria and Sicily. Therefore a new hypothesis which takes into account the new systematic position of Calabrian and Sicilian deer is proposed.
- Angelone C. & Kotsakis T. (2001)
Rhagapodemus azzarolii n. sp. (Muridae, Rodentia) from the Pliocene of Mandriola (Western Sardinia – Italy)
pp. 127-132
In this paper a study of the fossil remains of a murid of the genus Rhagapodemus found in the gisement of Mandriola (Sinis Peninsula, Western Sardinia – Italy) is made. This form was formerly considered as a subspecies of R. haurimagnensis, a Ruscinian species of continental Europe. More detailed studies demonstrate that the Mandriola Rhagapodemus is a new endemic Sardinian species, which has been named Rhagapodemus azzarolii. The continental ancestor of R. azzarolii has to be sought in R. ballesioi, another Ruscinian species of Western and Central Europe (MN14-MN15). This evidence, the slight, incipient endemic modifications of the dental patterns of the Mandriola population, and farther studies about other micromammalian taxa present in the gisement, imply the possibility of a faunal migration from continental Europe to Sardinia during the Zanclian – Piacenzian boundary. In Sardinia, the new species gave rise to an endemic evolutionary lineage that ends in the Middle/Late Pleistocene with Rhagamys orthodon.
- Bajgusheva V.S., Titov V.V. & Tesakov A.S. (2001)
The sequence of Plio-Pleistocene mammal faunas from the south Russian Plain (the Azov Region)
pp. 133-138
The Azov Region and adjoining areas are rich in sedimentary successions that have yielded abundant remains of fossil mammals. These encompass the time span from Late Miocene through late Pleistocene. The occurrence of some Asian elements makes the peri-Azovian
faunas somewhat peculiar compared to contemporary West European faunas. Within the succession of faunal complexes considered, the most striking faunal restructuring took place at the boundary of Early and Middle Pliocene, and at the beginning of the middle Pleistocene.
- Bernor R.L., Fortelius M. & Rook L. (2001)
Evolutionary Biogeography and Paleoecology of the Oreopithecus bambolii “Faunal Zone” (late Miocene, Tusco-Sardinian Province)
pp. 139-148
We consider here the paleogeographic and paleoecologic contexts of the endemic late Miocene hominid, Oreopithecus bambolii.
We review the physical geologic record as well as the mammalian paleontologic record supporting previous and current claims of
Oreopithecus‘ endemicity. We analyse a 15 locality data set with regards to regional and temporal trends in ungulate relative crown height and genus-level faunal resemblance indices and find that there is a divergence of late Miocene North African, Arabian and Southwest Asian mammalian communities from penecontemporaneous Central and Western European faunas by the early Vallesian age (ca. 11-10 Ma); the former
communities apparently evolved a megafauna with higher percentages of hypsodont feeders than the latter and were apparently adapted to more seasonal open country habitats than the Central and Western European mammal faunas. We discuss the contrasting adaptations of the arboreal
soft fruit-eating farm Dryopithecus and the (apparent) terrestrial hard object frugivores Kenyapithecus, Griphopithecus, Ouranopithecus,
Ankarapithecus, Sivapithecus and Lufengpithecus and conclude that there is no reason to hypothesize that they are derived from a single common ancestor, or that the Eurasian forms are derived from a single dispersal event out of Africa. We accept Oreopithecus‘ closest phylogenetic relationship with Dryopithecus and posit a biogeographic extension into Central and Western Europe separate from the Griphopithecus and Sivapithecus entries into Eurasia; we support the plausibility of a multiple “out of Africa” dispersal hypothesis far Miocene Eurasian apes. We conclude that Oreopithecus bambolii evolved its peculiar dietary and locomotor behavior over approximately 3 m.y., in isolation within the
Tusco-Sardinian bioprovince.
- Bonfiglio L., Mangano G., Marra A.C. & Masini F. (2001)
A new late Pleistocene vertebrate faunal complex from Sicily (S. Teodoro Cave, North-Eastern Sicily, Italy)
pp. 149-158
Previous excavations at the S. Teodoro Cave were carried on mainly in the upper unit, Late Glacial in age, containing late
Upper Palaeolithic stone artefacts and no endemic mammals remains belonging to the Castello faunal complex, the youngest of the Pleistocene Sicilian faunal complexes. This unit overlies an older deposit of clay and sands which contain Pleistocene endemic mammal remains. During 1998 excavations a maximum depth of m 1.50 over an area of about 12 sq. m has been exploited. Scarce evidences of the Late Glacial have been encountered during excavations. The investigated lower unit (unit B) is made of clayey sands and gravels containing a highly diversified assemblage of vertebrates (elephant, horse, wild ox, deer, wild boar, hyena, fax, mouse, ground vole, shrew, hedgehog, bats, birds, reptiles) invertebrates (molluscs), and vegetal remains. Damages on bones and abundant coprolites testify an intense hyena activity. The collected data allow us to bring new refinements to the scheme of the Pleistocene vertebrate complexes of Sicily. The association of the elephant (Elephas mnaidriensis) with the equid (Equus hydruntinus), which were previously thought to represent the typical taxa of two different faunal complexes (the endemic Elephas mnaidriensis faunal complex and the younger, not endemic, Castello faunal complex), evidences a longer survival of the elephant in Sicily and a dispersal event of the Equus hydruncinus in the island older than so far known. The assemblage of small mammals is completely renewed respect to that of the E. mnaidriensis faunal complex, and includes not endemic taxa such as Microtus (Terricola) ex gr. savii, Apodemus, Erinaceus and Crocidura cf. sicula. A similar micromammal assemblage occurs in the fauna of the Castello faunal complex as well as in two recently described sites in Sicily
(Contrada Pianetti and K22- upper levels) which contain a faunal assemblage similar to that of the S. Teodoro Cave. The S. Teodoro cave assemblage confirms the existence of a new faunal complex in the Pleistocene of Sicily which contain some endemic taxa surviving from the Elephas mnaidriensis faunal complex associated with not endemic taxa.
- Capasso Barbato L. & Gliozzi E. (2001)
Late Pleistocene micromammal association from Praia a Mare (Calabria, Southern Italy): palaeoclimatological and biochronological implications
pp. 159-166
A rich micromammal association was collected from terra rossa and breccia deposits laying against the calcareous dolomitic bedrock of Serra Vingiolo (middle Trias-Lower Lias), near the railway line of Praia a Mare (Cosenza, Calabria). The following species were recognised: Sorex araneus Linnaeus, Sorex minurus Linnaeus, Glis glis (Linnaeus), Eliomys quercinus (Linnaeus), Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus), Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber), Microtus (Microtus) arvalis (Pallas), Microtus (Microtus) agrestis (Linnaeus), Microtus (Terricola) savii (De Selys Longchamps), Arvicola terrestris (Linnaeus) and Apodemus (Sylvaemus) sylvaticus (Linnaeus). M. (M.) gr. arvalis-agrestis are the more abundant species (70.9%). Their presence in the deposit of Praia a Mare leads to refer the fossil assemblage to a Late Pleistocene cold climatic phase. A comparison between the Praia micromammal association and other micromammal associations from several well dated central and southern Italy fossiliferous deposits suggested its chronological attribution to the Last Glacial and, in particular, to the end of the Isotopic Stage 3.
- Cione A.L. & Tonni E.P. (2001)
Correlation of Pliocene to Holocene southern South American and European Vertebrate-Bearing units
pp. 167-173
The southern South American biostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic Late Miocene to Holocene sequence is briefly described and a tentative correlation with the Pliocene to Pleistocene sequence of the European Mediterranean area is proposed. The correlation is based on radioisotopic dating, magnetostratigraphic studies and biogeographic and evolutive events, especially those that indicate global climatic changes. Some of the faunistic turnovers responded to global climatic trends and, in consequence, are parallelized in both continents but other faunistic turnovers seem related to local tectonic events. The Chapadmalalan-Marplatan boundary would be correlative to the Ruscinian-Villafranchian boundary; the Vorohuean-Sanandresian-Ensenadan faunal change and the Early-Middle Villafranchian faunal turnover seem to be related to a most important climatic change in the late Pliocene. However, the typical South American Pleistocene fauna was taxically established at the beginning of the Ensenadan. The faunal turnover was greatly based on the entrance (far tectonic causes) of North American mammals, and, at present, more than 50% of South American mammal genera are of Holarctic origin. The boundary Villafranchian-Galerian marks the beginning of a new fauna, which is typical of the middle-late Pleistocene that is also shown by the important migration events detected in the top of the Ensenadan and the Bonaerian in southern South America.
- Erbajeva M.A, Alexeeva N.V. & Khenzykhenova F.I. (2001)
The Pliocene and Pleistocene small mammals of Eastern Transbaikalia
pp. 175-178
The paper deals with the Pliocene and Pleistocene mammalian faunas of Eastern Transbaikalia discovered during the last decade. For the first time for this region four successive small mammalian faunas are recognized. The oldest one is Middle Pliocene and the analogue of the West Transbaikalian Chikoi faunistic complex. The Middle and Late Pleistocene faunas are the analogues of the Tologoi and Upper Paleolithic Faunistic complexes of West Transbaikalia. The Early Pleistocene faunal assemblage represents a new stage (Ustoborian) based on the small mammalian succession in this region.
- Esu D. & Girotti O. (2001)
The genus Prososthenia Neumayr in Italy (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia: Hydrobiidae)
pp. 179-184
Three new species of the genus Prososthenia Neumayr, 1869, are identified in Pliocene sediments of Umbria (Central Italy): P. augusti n. sp., P. paulae n. sp. and P. tassoi n. sp. Their treatment offers the opportunity for a short review of Italian occurrences of this extinct genus.
- Fejfar O. (2001)
The Arvicolids from Arondelli-Triversa: a new look
pp. 185-193
Based on new evidence from the arvicolid record, the Arondelli local fauna of northern Italy is correlated with similar occurrences in Central Europe (Hajndcka, Wolfersheim, Hambach, Gundersheim), Russia (Uryv 1) and Anatolia (Kadiözü, Ziyaret, Yenice-1). The similarity with the Hambach fauna in the normally polarized Reuver clay establishes the correlation with the Gauss magnetic chron.
- Flynn L.J. & Wenyu W. (2001)
The Late Cenozoic Mammal Record in North China and the Neogene Mammal Zonation of Europe
pp. 195-199
The focus of modern biostratigraphic studies on later Cenozoic deposits of China is multifaceted. Recent efforts have established a well-resolved biostratigraphy and have advanced alpha taxonomy of new faunal elements. From this basis, researchers have begun to analyze faunal patterns through time, recognizing turnover, relative faunal stability, and appearance of exotic elements. Events intrinsic to the depositional systems and contained fossils of China are the foundation for eastern Asian biochronologic units whose utility in other depositional systems, indeed beyond China, is readily testable. Such research is rather advanced for the late Neogene represented in Yushe Basin, Shanxi Province. The robust regional biochronology can be correlated with the MN zonation of Europe at a finer degree of precision than hitherto possible. As previously acknowledged, the oldest Yushe deposits correlate to MN 13. Successive assemblages represent equivalents of MN 14-17 and terminate with a middle Pleistocene microfauna. Closest correlation is with MN 13 and MN 17. Few species are shared, however, and a number of genera show different temporal ranges in Europe and China, attesting to different dispersal patterns of certain elements.
- Hufthammer A.K. (2001)
The Weichselian (c. 115,000 – 10,000 B.P.) vertebrate fauna of Norway
pp. 201-208
The oldest Quatenary vertebrate fossils from Norway are seal bones, probabry Phoca vitulina (common seal) from the Eemian (c. 130,000-115,000 B.P.) or the very beginning of the Weichselian. A mammal arctic tundra herbivore megafauna, including Mammuthus primigenius, Ovibos moschatus and Rangifer tarandus, existed in South Norway during both the Lower and Middle Weichselian interstadials (c. 115-85 ka B.P. and c. 70-52 ka B.P.). This fauna was probably distributed over most of the inland, including the high mountain plateau of Hardangervidda, but not in the mountainous areas of the west. At present there is no proof of the existence of an inland fauna during the main Middle Weichselian interstadial, c. 36 -28 ka. B.P. or any of the subsequent interstadials. However, rich bone assemblages from the north and south coast of Norway document the presence of a coastal arctic fauna from both c 115-85 ka B.P. and 36-28 ka B.P.. The lower interstadial bone assemblages, from northern Norway, include polar bear (Ursus maritimus), wolf (Canis lupus), polar fox (Alopex lagopus), harp seal (Phoca groenlandica), birds and fishes, while reindeer (Rangifer rarandus) and ringed seal (Phoca hisbida) are also included in the younger assemblage from south Norway. Both faunas are arctic, however, the oldest of a low arctic coastal environment, the younger of a middle to high arctic, indicating more severe climatic conditions during the youngest interstadial. Except for a bone assemblage from the Bolling interstadial (c. 13 -12 ka B.P.) that, based on the composition of bird species, can be regarded as a boreal fauna, all late glacial stray finds are arctic species.
- van Kolfschoten T. (2001)
Pleistocene Mammals from the Netherlands
pp. 209-215
The revival of the research of the Dutch Pleistocene mammalian record led to the discovery of new localities and new finds. Several new species, listed in this paper, could be added to the Dutch record. Re-investigation of the stratigraphical setting of part of the record resulted in new insights in the stratigraphical position of the old finds and the correlation between the mammalian biozonation and the Dutch Standard subdivision of the Pleistocene became more accurate. The transition of the Early Villafranchian to the Late Villafranchian took place during the early Tiglian. The beginning of the Biharian is correlated with the late Tiglian/early Eburonian and the Biharian ended before Interglacial IV of the Cromerian Complex.
- Koufos G.D. (2001)
The Villafranchian mammalian faunas and biochronology of Greece
pp. 217-223
This article reviews the faunal composition, biochronology and succession of late Pliocene through early Pleistocene mammalian localities and faunas of Greece. Some important faunal events are identified that permit stratigraphic subdivision within this great time span. The main faunal changes occur around the Pliocene-Pleistocene temporal boundary and at the end of Villafranchian s.l.
- Lindsay E. (2001)
Correlation of mammalian biochronology with the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale
pp. 225-233
A chart that correlates mammalian biochronology with the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS) is presented. Correlations in North America, where data is more prevalent, are discussed in detail; correlations for other continents are presented only on the chart. It is hoped that this chart, in spite of biased interpretations and countless omissions, might serve as a limited framework for guiding and constraining interpretations about mammal evolution and intercontinental dispersal of land mammals.
- Miller W.E & Carranza-Castañeda O. (2001)
Late Cenozoic mammals from the basins of Central Mexico
pp. 235-242
Central Mexico is becoming ever more important in an understanding of vertebrate distributions, immigrations (such as the Great American Biotic Interchange), environmental changes and extinctions during the late Cenozoic based on the rapidly increasing knowledge of the fossil fauna. Great strides have been made over the past several years in the collection and study of mammalian fossils in particular. These represent the most important ones known of Hemphillian and Blancan age south of the United States. Not only have many new sites been discovered over a widespread area, but the assemblage of collected specimens numbers in the thousands. Their taxonomic diversity permits a variety of important studies. Collected fossils have all been placed in a context of good stratigraphic control. With both radiometric dates available for several sites, with more being run, and paleomagnetic datings in progress, chronologic control is providing an excellent data base. This has led to the most chronologically precise placement of the Hemphillian -Blancan boundary to date. A better picture of the entire North American late Cenozoic vertebrate fauna is being made possible by thorough paleontological information gathered in central Mexico.
- Nadachowskj A. (2001)
New important Neogene and Pleistocene mammal assemblages from Poland
pp. 243-248
Three mammal assemblages of Belchatów C, Belchatów B and Belchatów A are referred to MN 4/5, MN 5/6 and MN 8/9, respectively, on the basis of species composition of rodents and insectivores. Przymilowice 1-6 localities yielded four faunas of Late Villanyian (MN 17), Early Biharian, Middle Pleistocene and Holocene ages. The fissure filling assemblage from Zalesiaki 1A/13, with Predicrosronyx compitalis, probably dates back to the oldest Pleistocene continental glaciation in Europe. Very rich molluscan and vertebrate assemblages from Oblazowa Cave represent a faunal succession in the Carpathians from almost the entire Late Pleistocene.
- Napoleone G., Albianelli A. & Mazzini M. (2001)
The fossil Rhinoceros found by Nesti on 1811 dated in the final Pliocene by magnetostratigraphy of the Upper Valdarno sequence
pp. 249-256
A magnetostratigraphic calibration is provided, for an old fossil find of the Upper Valdarno (UV) vertebrates stored in the Palaeontological Museum of Florence, by the correlation established with the reference of the Faella section, which covers the nearly complete depositional sequence of the Montevarchi Succession. The latter yielded most of the UV fossil collections of late Villafranchian age. Nesti’s rhinoceros was recovered at Poggio di Monte al Pero in the same sequence and is correlatable with its findings. From partial information in the catalogue and Nesti’s description, the site level was determined quite high in the sequence, while from the paleomagnetic survey through the more than 50 m thick hill-side section it was contained within one magnetic zone of normal polarity. Magnetostratigraphy of this section correlates with that of the facing Faella section containing the composite of the entire Olduvai Chron (1.95-1.77 Ma). The level of the corresponding Nesti’s site in the Faella reference section yields a date of 1.830 ± 0.015 Ma. Its high resolution is provided by the sharp constraints of the Olduvai magnetozone C2n recorded with the split short reversals dated in the stratotype of the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary 1.815 Ma and lasting 1.785 Ma and 1.770 Ma, respectively. The approximation of 15 ky is taken to a cautionary value, having assumed an incertitude of 5 meters in the reconstructed site elevation and an average accumulation rate measured at Faella as nearly 300 mm/ky by the aforesaid time constraints.
- Palombo M.R. & Mussi M. (2001)
Large Mammal Guilds and Human Settlement in the Middle Pleistocene of Italy
pp. 257-267
In the Italian peninsula, the early Middle Pleistocene is characterised by a marked large mammal renewal which happens progressively in successive phases. Overall, richness increases, because new occurrences prevail over extinctions. A moderate community reconstruction characterizes the Galerian/Aurelian transition. Humans are among the new early Middle Pleistocene carnivore species. This ecologically flexible species adapts more successfully than many others to the environmental changes, taking advantage of the ongoing fragmentation of the habitat. After the extant evidence, this lead to a stable human settlement of Italy during the Middle Pleistocene.
- Pevzner M., Vangengeim E. & Tesakov A. (2001)
Quaternary zonal subdivisions of Eastern Europe based on vole evolution
pp. 269-274
A vole zonal scheme is proposed for the Quaternary of Eastern Europe. The scheme is based on the evolutionary appearance of forms in the Borsodia–Prolagurus–Lagurus, Mimomys–Arvicola, and Allophaiomys–Stenocranius lineages. Eleven range and concurrent range zones were distiniuished (downward from MQR1 to MQR11). Zones MQR9, MQR7, MQR5, and MQR3 each are subdivided into 2 subzones. The Psekups Jaunal assemblage corresponds to the MQR11-MQR9 zones; the Taman’ one to the MQR8 zone and the B subzone of the MQR7 zone; the Tiraspol’ assemblage to the A subzone of the MQR7 zone and to the MQR6-MQR4 zones; the Singil complex to the MQR3 zone; and the Khazar and Mammoth assemblages to the MQR2 and MQR1 zones. The most detailed subdivisions, ranging from 30 to 75 thousand years, were developed for the middle Pleistocene.
- Pickford M. & Liping L. (2001)
Revision of the Miocene Suidae of Xiaolongtan (Kaiyuan), China
pp. 275-283
Three species of Suidae (a tetraconodont and two suines) occur at Xiaolongtan (Kaiyuan), Yunnan province, China. One is identified as a new species of the Tetraconodontinae Parachleuastochoerus. Suid biochronology suggests an age of ca. 10 Ma for this hominoid-bearing locality, equivalent to European Mammal unit MN 9.
- Radulescu C. & Samson P.M. (2001)
Biochronology and evolution of the Early Pliocene to the Early Pleistocene mammalian faunas of Romania
pp. 285-291
The authors present the biostratigraphical sequences of the Dacie Basin and Brasov Depression, Romania, based on small and large mammals. Faunas of selected Pliocene and Early Pleistocene fossiliferous localities are discussed and a tentative correlation with the Faunal Units (F.U.) of Italy is undertaken. The fossil sites discussed here encompass a time period of about 3 million years (Myr), lasting from the Early Pliocene (lagomorphic faunal complex without arvicolids older than 4 Myr known from Beresti) to the Early Pleistocene (occurrence of Prolagurus pannonicus and Allophaiomys cf. pliocaenicus at Fierbinti, a site dated to about 1 Myr).
- Stiner M.C, Howell F.C., Martínez-Navarro B., Tchernov E. & Bar-Yosef O. (2001)
Outside Africa: Middle Pleistocene Lycaon from Hayonim Cave, Israel
pp. 293-302
In 1997 a nearly complete adult hemi-mandible of the genus Lycaon (Canidae) was found in the early Middle Paleolithic layer of Hayonim Cave, Israel. Dating to oxygen isotope (18/16O) stage 6, or perhaps late stage 7, of the later middle Pleistocene, this is the only unequivocal example of the genus recorded outside of the African continent for any period. The mandible includes three permanent molars, most of the horizontal ramus, and the condyle. It was not in anatomical connection with the cranium at the time of discovery, or with any other skeletal parts. The mandible’s morphology is primitive, retaining ancestral features in the dentition and a very robust horizontal ramus. This fossil Lycaon occurs in general stratigraphic association with early Middle Paleolithic artifacts and fauna, but it bears no tool marks or burning damage. This unique find raises new questions about the origin, evolution, and dispersal of the genus Lycaon.
- Torre D., Abbazzi L., Bertini A., Fanfani F., Ficcarelli G., Masini F., Mazza P. & Rook L. (2001)
Structural changes in Italian Late Pliocene – Pleistocene large mammal assemblages
pp. 303-306
A schematic range-chart of the late Pliocene-Pleistocene large mammal genera is presented. The main faunal events recognizable within this time span are discussed. The first faunal event occurs around the Gauss/Matuyama transition with the beginning of the middle Villafranchian characterized by the arrival of Mammuthus (Archidiskodon) and Equus (the so-called “elephant-Equus event”). The following faunal event occurs at the Plio-Pleistocene transition (the so-called “wolf event”). The latter is marked by a strong contraction in the diversity of the ruminants and by a renewal in the carnivore diversity with the arrival of social carnivores. The low diversity in ruminant assemblage persist until the end of the middle Pleistocene when new arrivals again produce a diversity similar to the final Pliocene one.
- Vislobokova I., Sotnikova M. & Dodonov A. (2001)
Late Miocene – Pliocene mammalian faunas of Russia and neighbouring countries
pp. 307-313
The data on the successions of the Late Miocene-Pliocene mammalian faunas from the territory of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia are summarised. The main characteristics of the MN zone for these territories are given.
Issue 3
Published in December 2001
- Corradini C., Leone F., Loi A. & Serpagli E. (2001)
Conodont stratigraphy of a highly tectonised Silurian-Devonian section in the San Basilio area (SE Sardinia, Italy)
pp. 315-323
Several conodont species belonging to five late Silurian biozones (Ancoradella ploeckensis, Polygnathoides siluricus, Ozarkodina crispa, Ozarkodina remscheidensis, Oulodus elegans detortus) and four Early and Late Devonian biozones (delta, pesavis, kitabicus–excavatus and Late rhenana) allow a better interpretation of the San Basilio area in western Gerrei. Frasnian sediments are documented for the first time in SE Sardinia.
- Venturi F. & Bilotta M. (2001)
Posizione tassonomica di Galaticeras (Ammonoidea): un genere medio-liassico della Tetide mediterranea
pp. 325-337
In this article we analyse the status of the genus Galaticeras, an ammonoid that is typical of the lower and middle Carixian of the Mediterranean Paleoprovince, specially common in Sicily and in the Umbro-Marchean Apennines, but present also in Tuscany, Morocco and Albania: currently there is no evidence of its occurrence in other areas and/or stratigraphic intervals.
From our studies on numerous well-preserved internal moulds collected in the Umbro-Marchean Apennines, we can affirm with absolute certainty that the genus Galaticeras belongs to the suborder Lytoceratina, despite in the literature its assignment is usually different. Our statements are based on structural features that can be considered characters very stable for the three Jurassic ammonoid suborders and passible of no convergence: the aspect of the suture line (with particular regard to the E and I lobes) and the conformations of the pseudosutures (conceived as lineations on the ventral area, probably interpretable as strengthening structures between successive septal insertions). We observed in fact, that in Galaticeras and in all Lytoceratina the medial saddle of the E lobes appears nearly broken up by a transversal cut, the I lobe is more or less cross-shaped, and the pseudostructures are approximately parallel to the middle incision (that is continuous and doesn’t represent a true septum). On the other hand, in the Phylloceratina the medial saddle of the E lobes possess a pointed termination, I lobes are quite simple, biphidous, with distinctive conical structures, and the pseudosutures are very fleeble V-shaped grooves starting form a non-continuous middle septum. In the Ammonitina finally, E lobes have a rather wide medial saddle with denticulated edges, I lobes are quite variable in their general aspect (with mono-, bi-, or tripolar endings), but always possessing branches or denticles, and there is no evidence of medial septa or pseudosutures, at least in the Lower Jurassic forms of the Apennines.
Judging from the overall aspect of the suture line and of the shell, we believe that the closest taxa of Galaticeras are Peltolytoceras and Exomiloceras (two Sinemurian ammonoids of the Tethys), and we think that these three genera may constitute the new subfamily Peltolytoceratinae (in family Ectocentritidae), whose establishment is here proposed.
All the genera (but apparently not all species) of this new subfamily are characterized by a sutural feature present also in not closely related taxa: the shifting of the E lobe from the middle to the ventral area. This peculiarity is clearly due to convergence (thus it’s not univocally indicative of phyletic relationships), and perhaps may have had some implication in the swimming ability and behaviours of the animal in life.
- Ceregato A. & Tabanelli C. (2001)
Kelliella ruggierii, a new deep-sea bivalve from the Mediterranean Pliocene
pp. 339-343
A new species of Kelliella (Bivalvia, Veneroida) from the Po Basin Pliocene is described. Due to the paleobathymetric range of the fossil assemblage associated with this small bivalve, Kelliella ruggierii sp. nov. seems to be exclusive of the deepest Pliocene mud-bottoms from the Po basin. Moreover, this species shows remarkable affinities with some bathyal and abyssal living Kelliellidae from Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
- Chanet B. & Sorbini C. (2001)
A male fish Bothus podas (Delaroche, 1809) [Pleuronectiformes: Bothidae] in the Pliocene of the Marecchia river (Italy)
pp. 345-350
The aim of this paper is a new study of a fossil flatfish discovered in the Pliocene sediments along Marecchia river (Poggio Berni, near Rimini, Eastern Central Italy). L. Sorbini (1988) considered it as a member of the Recent genus Bothus. Further works on extant fauna provided arguments to specify that this fossil is a male specimen of Bothus podas (Delaroche, 1809).
- Azzaroli A. (2001)
Middle and Late Villafranchian Vertebrates from Tuscany and Umbria. A synopsis
pp. 351-356
The present paper synthesizes the history of fossil vertebrate faunas of Tuscany and Umbria, from the beginning of the Middle Villafranchian to the end of this stage, and concludes with a summary on the onset of post-Villafranchian faunas.
The oldest fauna here described, from Montopoli in the Lower Valdarno, Western Tuscany, dates from the beginning of the great climatic and faunal crisis at 2.5 My. It is followed chronologically by the Olivola fauna in NW Tuscany. A third, very rich fauna is dispersed over a wide area in the Upper Valdarno, SE of Florence, and straddles the Plio-Pleistocene boundary, as defined by Van Couvering (1997), without any marked change in its content. It is followed by the Farneta fauna of Western Tuscany, the chronologically equivalent Selvella fauna a short distance to the East, in Umbria, and by the Pietrafitta fauna, also in Umbria. A latest Villafranchian fauna comes from Pirro Nord, at the western margin of the Gargano promontory in South-eastern Italy. Post-Villafranchian faunas from eastern Tuscany and from the central Apennines around the Umbria-Marche boundary are briefly discussed.