La Collezione Lamarmora - Vertebrati del Museo Sardo di Geologia e Paleontologia Domenico Lovisato (Cagliari, Italia)

Some historical collections housed in the Sardinian Museum of Geology and Palaeontology Domenico Lovisato have been reviewed during a recent cataloging. One of them is the “Lamarmora Vertebrate Collection”, a small assemblage of Quaternary vertebrate fossils gathered by General Alberto Lamarmora during the mid-nineteenth century in the historic locality of Bonaria (Cagliari). Seven mammal taxa belonging to the Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) Faunal Complex have been recognized during preliminary analysis. The collection has an historic importance because it was donated by one of the most illustrious names in that period and, secondly, it represents one of the first collections annexed to the “Museo Lovisato”. A scientific importance is given by the presence of some of the first Quaternary fossil vertebrate remains collected in Sardinia. It is important to put light on the fact that now the Quaternary fossiliferous deposit of Bonaria is totally disappeared, first exploited by quarry activity and then engulfed by the urban development

The Funtana Morimenta Ichnosite (Sardinia, Italy): a Potential Geotourist Attraction

The late Middle Pleistocene ichnosite of Funtana Morimenta (Gonnesa, Italy) provides a relevant scientific and didactic interest. In this site, tracks of megacerine deer and dwarf mammoths of the Ice Age are well-preserved and visible in situ. The geosite has also historic importance, and it has been mentioned since the beginning of the nineteenth century for the sedimentological features and its palaeontological content. For these reasons, the Funtana Morimenta ichnosite would represent an efficient tool for developing educational goals, such as teaching activities or field trips. Unfortunately, in the last years, it has shown significant deterioration because its sedimentological features (poorly cemented aeolian sandstone) made it susceptible to weathering. For this site to be available for future generations, great attention should be posed to its safeguard and avoid the permanent disappearance of what is currently a full-fledged natural and scientific resource. The conservation actions herein proposed will provide several benefits: they are meant to (i) valorize the aeolian deposits and the visible ichnofossils; (ii) show visitors, tourists, or students the geo-palaeontological richness of the territory; (iii) encourage tourists to explore the other numerous geosites spread in the island of Sardinia; and (iv) allow private entrepreneurs or local public administrations to develop economic opportunities

An overview of the crocodylian fossil record from Sardinia (Italy)

Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de CatalunyaIn the present contribution we focus on an overview of the Cenozoic crocodylians of Sardinia (Italy).Crocodylians from this Italian island have been published since the second half of the 19th Century anda number of papers reported on the presence of these vertebrates in 16 different localities. The remains,some of which apparently lost, are mainly represented by isolated teeth housed in historical collections ofdifferent museums (in Italy and The Netherlands) that in most cases have never been figured or described.We illustrate for the first time and provide brief descriptions of all crocodylian teeth collected in the islandas well as of the still available holotype of Tomistoma calaritanum, the only crocodylian taxon establishedon material from Sardinia. In addition, we report crocodylian remains from two new localities, one ofwhich testifies the presence of these vertebrates already in the Eocene record of the island.Dans la présente contribution, nous nous concentrons sur un aperçu des crocodyliens cénozoïques de Sardaigne (Italie). Les crocodiliens de cette île italienne ont été publiés depuis la seconde moitié du 19e siècle et un certain nombre d'articles ont fait état de la présence de ces vertébrés dans 16 localités différentes. Les restes, dont une partie semble avoir été perdue, sont principalement représentés par des dents isolées, conservés dans des collections historiques de différents musées (en Italie et aux Pays-Bas) qui, dans la plupart des cas, n'ont jamais été figurés ni décrits. Nous illustrons pour la première fois et fournissons une brève description de toutes les dents de crocodiliens collectées sur l'île ainsi que de l'holotype encore disponible de Tomistoma calaritanum, le seul taxon de crocodilien établi sur du matériel de Sardaigne. En outre, nous signalons des restes de crocodiliens de deux nouvelles localités, dont l'une témoigne de la présence de ces vertébrés déjà dans les dépots de l'Éocène de l'île

A revision of the trionychid turtle Procyclanorbis sardus Portis, 1901 from the late Miocene of Sardinia (Italy)

Procyclanorbis sardus Portis, 1901 est la première tortue trionychidé fossile décrite en Sardaigne. Ce taxon du Miocène supérieur a été initialement considéré comme ayant des affinités avec les cyclanorbines d’Afrique et d’Asie du Sud. Nous décrivons ici en détail et figurons l’holotype de cette espèce, qui a subi une importante dégradation depuis sa publication originale. Une comparaison entre l’état originel du fossile et son état de conservation actuel est fournie. Sur la base de son anatomie, les affinités de Procyclanorbis sardus avec les cyclanorbinés sont rejetées car ce taxon s’avère être un pantrionychiné indéterminé. La distribution des trionychidés fossiles dans les îles de la Méditerranée est également discutée.Procyclanorbis sardus Portis, 1901 is the first fossil trionychid turtle described from Sardinia. This late Miocene taxon was originally considered to have affinities with the African and southern Asian cyclanorbines. We here redescribe in detail the holotype specimen of this species, which has suffered severe degradation since its original publication. A comparison between the original state of the fossil and its current state of preservation is provided. On the basis of its anatomy, affinities of Procyclanorbis sardus with cyclanorbines are discarded and this taxon is demonstrated to be an indeterminate pan-trionychine. The distribution of fossil trionychids in the Mediterranean Islands is also discussed

Crocodiles, sharks and turtles: the urban geo‑palaeontological heritage of Cagliari (Italy)

In this paper, we report on the first project on the promotion of urban geoheritage in Cagliari, the capital of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Italy). We briefly address the history of geo-palaeontological research in the city area and outline the main phases of development in the history of Cagliari’s geo-palaeontological museum. Geotourism is an efficient method of bringing geosciences to a wider audience. For this project, we compiled a geoitinerary of the main lithotypes and fossils present within the urban territory. Miocene lithotypes are the most important materials in the edification of the Cagliari’s old town, and in the past, the quarrying activity favoured the geology knowledge of the area. The presence of abandoned quarries and natural outcrops in parks, public gardens, on the nearby coastline, and also of fossils exposed in ashlars of historic buildings, made Cagliari an excellent example to valorise the geo-palaeontological heritage using geotourism. This project showcases the importance of knowledge transfer and non-technical communication methods by converting highly technical aspects into accessible and engaging information dissemination to a wide range of audience types, including non-specialised ones

Crocodiles, Sharks and Turtles: The urban geo-palaeontological heritage of Cagliari (Italy)

In this paper, we report on the first project on the promotion of urban geoheritage in Cagliari, the capital of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Italy). We briefly address the history of geo-palaeontological research in the city area and outline the main phases of development in the history of Cagliari’s geo-palaeontological museum. Geotourism is an efficient method of bringing geosciences to a wider audience. For this project, we compiled a geoitinerary of the main lithotypes and fossils present within the urban territory. Miocene lithotypes are the most important materials in the edification of the Cagliari’s old town, and in the past, the quarrying activity favoured the geology knowledge of the area. The presence of abandoned quarries and natural outcrops in parks, public gardens, on the nearby coastline, and also of fossils exposed in ashlars of historic buildings, made Cagliari an excellent example to valorise the geo-palaeontological heritage using geotourism. This project showcases the importance of knowledge transfer and non-technical communication methods by converting highly technical aspects into accessible and engaging information dissemination to a wide range of audience types, including non-specialised ones

THE OCCURRENCE OF EOCENOCHELUS (TESTUDINES, PLEURODIRA) FROM SARDINIA SUPPORTS PALAEOGEOGRAPHIC RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE ISLAND TO CONTINENTAL WESTERN EUROPE DURING THE EOCENE

In this paper, we describe pleurodire turtle material from the island of Sardinia, Italy, originating from two Eocene localities of the Cixerri Formation. The more complete among the two specimens bears strong resemblance with the continental Western European Eocenochelus eremberti and is tentatively referred to the same species, while the second, less complete specimen is only provisionally referred to the genus Eocenochelus. The new Sardinian turtles add to the so far scarcely documented fossil record of pleurodires in Italy, while it ranks as among the very few Paleogene vertebrates known from the island. The identification of the widespread Eocene Western European genus Eocenochelus in the fossil record of Sardinia supports recent palaeogeographic reconstructions of the island, according to which the Sardinia-Corsica Massif was located rather close to mainland Europe and was subjected to a significant, counterclockwise rotation during the Paleogene

Updated Italian Tetrapod Ichnology Reference List

We provide a list of contribution by Italian scientists to tetrapod ichnology with papers on both material from Italy and abroad. Foreign author’s contributions on tetrapod ichnology based on material from Italy are also considered. The list updates the previous one published by D’Orazi Porchetti et al. (2008) and, as a result, includes works from 1869 up to now. Following the previous reference list, papers of non-Italian researchers on foreign material are reported when the material was found on Italian territory at the time of publication

Palaeozoic Basement of the Pyrenees

International audienceIn the Pyrenees, the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician strata represent a quiescent time span with no remarkable tectonic activity, followed by a late Early-Mid Ordovician episode of uplift and erosion that led to the formation of the Sardic unconformity. Silurian sedimentation was widespread and transgressive followed by a Devonian succession characterized by a complex mosaic of sedi-mentary facies. Carboniferous pre-Variscan sediments (Tournaisian-Viséan cherts and limestones) precede the arrival of the synorogenic siliciclastic supplies of the Culm flysch at the Late Serpukhovian. All this succession was subsequently affected by the Serpukhovian-Bashkirian (Variscan) collision, as a result of which, the Palaeozoic rocks were incorporated into the northeastern branch of the Ibero-Armorican Arc