CERVIDEA AND MOSCHIDAE (MAMMALIA, ARTIODACTYLA) FROM THE BACCINELLO V-3 ASSEMBLAGE (LATE MIOCENE, LATE TUROLIAN, GROSSETO, ITALY)

Cervids and a moschid coming from various sites in the Baccinello-Cinigiano basin (Grosseto, Tuscany, Central Italy) are described. These remains have been recovered from levels correlatable with the horizon where the faunal assemblage known as V3 has been found. In the sedimentary succession within the Baccinello-Cinigiano basin, five successive faunal associations have been recognised. These assemblages document phases of population spanning the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene. The oldest assemblage, termed V0, is correlated with the MN11 "zone" (early Turolian), V1 and V2 assemblages with the MN12 "zone" (late Turolian), and V3 with the MN13 "zone" (late Turolian). Sediments bearing V3 assemblage are unconformably overlain by Lower Pliocene deposits containing remains of mammals referred to the early Villafranchian MN16a "zone". The cervid material studied here is referred to three taxa, Paracervulus cf. australis, Procapreolus cf. loczyi, Cervidae indet., and to a new representative of the family Moschidae Tuscomeryx huerzeleri (nov. gen., nov. sp.). Because of the occurrence of genus Paracervulus, the assemblage can be referred to a phase transitional between the Turolian and Ruscinian Mammal Ages of the biochronological continental scale.&nbsp

EOSTYLOCEROS CF. PIDOPLITSCHKOI KOROTKEVITSCH 1964 (CERVIDAE, MUNTIACINAE): NEW ELEMENT IN THE NEOGENE MAMMAL ASSEMBLAGE OF LOWER VALDARNO (TUSCANY, CENTRAL ITALY)

An Eostyloceros antler fragment is described. The specimen makes part of the Montopoli (Lower Valdarno, Tuscany) collection preserved in the Geo-Paleontological section of the Natural History Museum of Florence. This site is the type locality of the homonymous Faunal Unit of the Italian Biochronological scheme; it includes the latest Early Villafranchian Mammal Age faunas. The occurrence of an Eostyloceros species among this material however, is in disagreement with the age of the Montopoli local fauna, which has been correlated with the Gauss-Matuyama boundary and thus dated to about 2.6 Ma. The youngest remains of this genus come from sites of eastern Europe Early Pliocene in age (Ruscinian Mammal Age). The possibility that the antler is an external element to the Montopoli assemblage is therefore contemplated.

DEER FAUNA FROM THE AULLA QUARRY (VAL DI MAGRA, NORTHERN APENNINES). BIOCHRONOLOGICAL REMARKS

The occurrence in the continental deposits of Aulla quarry of deer characteristic of Early Villafranchian fauna, referred to Procapreolus cusanus and Pseudodama ex gr. pardinensis-lyra, is reported. These finds make questionable the correlation of the sedimentary succession to the Early Pliocene, based on the pollen assemblage

Variazioni nei popolamenti di cervidi durante il Pleistocene italiano

Dottorato di ricerca in paleontologia. 7. ciclo. A.a. 1992-95. Tutore D. Torre. Coordinatore E. SerpagliConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal