The Aragonian and Vallesian high-resolution micromammal succession from the Calatayud-Montalbán Basin (Aragón, Spain)

We present an updated taxonomy and faunal distribution of the micromammal fossil record from the Aragonian and lower Vallesian of the Calatayud-Montalbán Basin. The analysed record includes the orders Rodentia, Eulipotyphla, and Lagomorpha. The pattern of species turnover showsseven major faunal events,which are correlated to major climate changes based on marine stable oxygen and carbon isotope records. The episodesδ 18OMi-2 and Mi-3 are significantly correlated with major micromammal turnover at the boundaries between lower and middle Aragonian and middle and upper Aragonian, respectively. Our resultssupport the existence of a selective turnover during the Aragonian and lower Vallesian

The Miocene mammal record of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia)

The land mammal record of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia, NE Spain) ranges from the early Miocene (Ramblian) to the late Miocene (Turolian), that is from about 20 to 7 Ma. Here we present an updated review of the mammal succession focusing on biochronology as well as on environmental and faunal changes. Based on faunal similarities with central Europe, we interpret this basin as a transitional zone between the forested environments of northern regions and the more arid landscapes of the inner Iberian Peninsula. The quality of the Vallès-Penedès record and its chronostratigraphic control is clearly better for the late Aragonian and the Vallesian (between 12.6-9.0 Ma), especially for small mammals. Therefore, we analyze small mammal diversity dynamics during this interval. Contrary to previous analyses, which found an abrupt extinction event coinciding with the early/late Vallesian boundary (the Vallesian Crisis), our results show that this pattern is due to uneven sampling. Instead, taxonomic richness slowly decreased since the late Vallesian as a result of a series of extinctions that mostly affected forest-dwelling taxa

Reconciling the stratigraphy and depositional history of the Lycian orogen-top basins, SW Anatolia

Terrestrial fossil records from the SWAnatolian basins are crucial both for regional correlations and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. By reassessing biostratigraphic constraints and incorporating new fossil data, we calibrated and reconstructed the late Neogene andQuaternary palaeoenvironments within a regional palaeogeographical framework. The culmination of the Taurides inSWAnatolia was followed by a regional crustal extension from the late Tortonian onwards that created a broad array of NE-trending orogen-top basins with synchronic associations of alluvial fan, fluvial and lacustrine deposits. The terrestrial basins are superimposed on the upper Burdigalian marine units with a c. 7 myr of hiatus that corresponds to a shift from regional shortening to extension. The initial infill of these basins is documented by a transition from marginal alluvial fans and axial fluvial systems into central shallow-perennial lakes coinciding with a climatic shift from warm/humid to arid conditions. The basal alluvial fan deposits abound in fossil macro-mammals of an early Turolian (MN11–12; late Tortonian) age. The Pliocene epoch in the region was punctuated by subhumid/humid conditions resulting in a rise of local base levels and expansion of lakes as evidenced by marsh-swamp deposits containing diverse fossilmammal assemblages indicating late Ruscinian (lateMN15; late Zanclean) ageWe are grateful for the support of the international bilateral project between The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) and The Russian Scientific Foundation (RFBR) with grant a number of 111Y192. M.C.A. is grateful to the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) for a GEBIP (Young Scientist Award) grant. T.K. and S.M. are grateful to the Ege University Scientific Research Center for the TTM/002/2016 and TTM/001/2016 projects. M.C.A., H.A., S.M. and M.B. have obtained Martin and Temmick Fellowships at Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden). F.A.D. is supported by a Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Scientific Research Grant. T.A.N. is supported by an Alexander-von-Humboldt Scholarship. L.H.O. received support from TUBITAK under the 2221 program for visiting scientists

Insectivores (Erinaceomorpha, Soricomorpha, Mammalia) from the Ramblian of tbe Daroca-Calamocha area

Se describen las asociaciones de insectívoros del estratotipo del Rambliense cerca de Calamocha (Teruel, España), junto de las de San Roque 4A y 4B, dos yacimientos Ramblienses del área-tipo del Aragoniense. Se describar dos especies nuevas, el erinacéido Galerix remmerti, y la musaraña Clapasorex alvarezae. Tanto el porcentaje de insectívoros como su diversidad son mayores en el Rambliense inferior que en el Rambliense superior. Esto indica condiciones más húmedas en la zona Z que en la zona A, lo cual contradice las reconstrucciones paleoambientales basadas en roedores.The insectivore assemblages from the Ramblian stratotype near Calamocha (Spain) are described, as well as those from San Roque 4A and 4B, two Ramblian localities near the Aragonian stratotype. Two new species are described, the erinaceid Galerix remmerti, and the shrew Clapasorex alvarezae. Both the percentages and the diversity of insectivores are higher in the Lower Ramblian, suggesting more humid conditions in zone Z than in zone A. This is in contradiction with the palaeoenvironmental reconstructions based on rodents

<i>Heterosorex</i> et Soricidae (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla) de la fissure Petersbuch 28 ; micro-évolution comme indicateur de mélange temporel ?

Le remplissage de la fissure bavaroise Petersbuch 28 (Miocène inférieur, MN 3/4, Allemagne) a livré une faune diversifiée de musaraignes. Les taxons Soricella discrepans Doben-Florin, 1964 et Paenelimnoecus micromorphus (Doben-Florin, 1964) présentent une distribution bimodale pour certaines variables dentaires que nous interprétons ici comme la conséquence d’un intervalle de temps prolongé d’accumulation des fossiles. De même, deux classes de taille d’incisives supérieures de Miosorex desnoyersianus (Lartet, 1851) ont été observées, suggérant également la présence de deux populations diachrones. En plus de ces espèces, le site a livré Heterosorex neumayrianus (Schlosser, 1887), l’unique hétérosoricidé représenté, Lartetium petersbuchense Ziegler, 1989, L. cf. prevostianum (Lartet, 1851) et Florinia stehlini (Doben-Florin, 1964). Ces soricidés confirment que l’âge de Petersbuch 28 correspond à un intervalle de temps proche de la transition MN3/MN4. Ce site comble ainsi une lacune entre les localités de Wintershof-West et de Petersbuch 2. Les deux espèces de Lartetium Ziegler, 1989 sont considérées comme de probables immigrants.The Bavarian fissure filling Petersbuch 28 (Germany, Lower Miocene, MN 3/4) yielded a diverse assemblage of shrews. Soricella discrepans Doben-Florin, 1964 and Paenelimnoecus micromorphus (Doben-Florin, 1964) show bimodal size distributions in some dental elements, which is interpreted as the result of a small time averaging. Two upper incisor types of Miosorex desnoyersianus (Lartet, 1851) were found, also indicating two populations of slightly different times. Apart from these, the fissure yielded Heterosorex neumayrianus (Schlosser, 1887), the only heterosoricid present, Lartetium petersbuchense Ziegler, 1989, L. cf. prevostianum (Lartet, 1851) and Florinia stehlini (Doben-Florin, 1964). The shrews confirm that Petersbuch 28 represents a time period near the MN 3/MN 4 transition. Thus, it fills the gap between the classical localities of Wintershof-West and Petersbuch 2. The two species of Lartetium Ziegler, 1989 are possible immigrants.</p

Trois millions d’années de « musaraigne terrifiante » ( &lt;i&gt;Dinosorex&lt;/i&gt;, Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) dans le Miocène du bassin Vallès-Penedès (Barcelone, Espagne)

Le genre d’Hétérosoricidé Dinosorex, de la péninsule Ibérique, est étudié en détail pour la première fois. La morphologie dentaire, ainsi que les mesures, correspondent à la description originale de l’espèce Dinosorex grycivensis Rzebik-Kowalska et Topachevsky, 1997, reconnue ainsi pour la première fois en Europe du Sud-Ouest. La dernière occurrence de Dinosorex dans le bassin Vallès-Penedès coïncide avec la transition du Vallésien basal à terminal, et correspond à la première occurrence du rongeur muridé Progonomys, à environ 9,6 Ma. Cette extinction est aussi proche de la date estimée de la disparition définitive du genre du registre fossile. D’un point de vue évolutif, il est remarquable qu’aucun changement morphologique ne puisse être observé dans plus de 40 sites couvrant 3 millions d’années. Aussi remarquable, aucune occurrence indiscutable de D. grycivensis ne peut être mise en évidence en Europe centrale, ce qui permettrait de lier biogéographiquement les faunes ukrainiennes et ibériques. Ces résultats soulignent clairement le besoin de réviser les autres formes européennes pour placer les fossiles ibériques dans un plus large contexte, et pouvoir comprendre les facteurs dirigeant l’évolution et l’extinction de la « musaraigne terrifiante ».For the first time, the heterosoricid genus Dinosorex from the Iberian Peninsula has been studied in detail. Dental morphology and measurements match the original description of the species Dinosorex grycivensis Rzebik-Kowalska and Topachevsky, 1997. This is the first time that the species is reported in southwestern Europe. Biostratigraphically, the last occurrences of Dinosorex in the Vallès-Penedès basin coincide with the transition from early to late Vallesian, together with the first occurrences of the murid Progonomys, at about 9.6 Ma. This is close in time to the estimated moment of final extinction for the genus. From an evolutionary point of view, it is remarkable that in the more than forty localities in the Vallès-Penedès Basin, spanning three million years, there are no apparent morphological changes. Notably, to date, no occurrences have been reported in central Europe that could link the Ukrainian and Iberian assemblages biogeographically. These results clearly highlight the need of revision of other European forms to place the Iberian finds in a broader scenario in order to fully comprehend the factors driving the evolution and ultimately extinction of the “terror-shrews”.</p