Macaca sylvanus Linnaeus 1758 from the Middle Pleistocene of Quecchia Quarry (Brescia, Northern Italy)

During the Plio-Pleistocene the Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus Linnaeus, 1758 was widely distributed throughout Europe and North Africa (Szalay and Delson, 1979; Delson, 1980; Rook et al., 2001), and it became extinct in Europe during the Late Pleistocene (Elton and O’Regan, 2014). Nowadays this primate is still present in North Africa and a small population has been reintroduced at Gibraltar (Modolo et al., 2005). The taxonomy of the Plio-Pleistocene European macaques is still debated but many authors agree in considering all the fossils as belonging to the M. sylvanus lineage, while the Pleistocene endemic M. majori Azzaroli, 1946 from Sardinia (Italy) has been considered a distinct valid species (Rook and O’Higgins, 2005). The occurrence of this species is documented from Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene sites located in Northern and Central Italy. Here we describe unpublished dentognathic remains of Macaca sylvanus from the Middle Pleistocene site of Quecchia Quarry (Botticino, Brescia, North Italy)

PERMIAN NON-MARINE BIVALVES FROM THE COLLIO AND GUNCINA FORMATIONS (SOUTHERN ALPS, ITALY): REVISED BIOSTRATIGRAPHY AND PALAEOBIOGEOGRAPHY

Non-marine bivalves are key fossils in Permian continental stratigraphy and palaeogeography. Although known since the end of 19th century, the occurrences from the continental basins of the Southern Alps have never been extensively studied. The non-marine bivalves from the Lower Permian Collio Formation (Brescian pre-Alps) are herein revised, and those from the Guncina Formation (Athesian District) are described for the first time. These two units yielded non-marine bivalves belonging to the genus Palaeomutela sensu lato, which is widespread in the Permian continental successions of eastern Euramerica. Three Palaeomutela morphotypes have been herein described: oval-subtriangular, subtrapezoidal and elongated. The latter includes several specimens herein assigned to Palaeomutela (Palaeanodonta) berrutii sp. nov. and dominates the Collio Formation association. The Guncina Formation yielded also the genus Redikorella, for the first time co-occurring on the same stratigraphic horizon of Palaeomutela, herein assigned to Palaeomutela (Palaeanodonta) guncinaensis sp. nov. To-date, it was generally accepted that the first members of the genera Palaeomutela and Redikorella occurred during the Ufimian (late Kungurian of the global scale) in the non-marine basins of the Cis-Ural Foredeep and of Angara, respectively. Such new finds in the early-middle Kungurian of southwestern Europe, well constrained by radioisotopic dating, suggest new global first appearance (First Appearance Datum) and a possible new center of origin of these genera. This fact raises new questions on biostratigraphy, palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology, which will require further research. If we assume that the genera Palaeomutela and Redikorella had only one center of origin, we need to hypothesise possible migration routes from SW Europe to the continental basins of Eastern Europe and Angara. Apparently, such migration could be better supported by a Pangaea B palaeogeographic configuration

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

Early Jurassic (Sinemurian to basal Toarcian) ammonites of the Brescian Prealps (Southern Alps, Italy).

70 pagesInternational audienceThis work provides a more precise up-to-date biostratigraphical framework of the Early Jurassic ammonite succession of the Brescian Prealps with more than seventy taxa for the Sinemurian, Pliensbachian and basal Toarcian corresponding to a about 30 horizons or faunal assemblages rather well correlable with the NW European standard zonation. These results are supported with already published data, new data from recent field investigations, revised contributions of different authors and with the study of the historical collection of the Museum of Natural Sciences of Brescia (Northern Italy). The biohorizons are referred to the Lower Jurassic carbonate series of the Brescian Prealps, cropping out between the eastern surroundings of Brescia (Botticino-Serle), to the East, and the Lake Iseo, to the West. This area was located in the eastern border of the wide Lombardian Basin, a part of the southern continental passive margin subjected to the Jurassic rifting, preceding the Neo-Tethys opening

Sinemurian to lowermost Toarcian ammonites of the Brescian Prealps (Southern Alps, Italy): preliminary biostratigraphical framework and correlations.

10 pagesInternational audienceA set of 28 ammonite biohorizons or faunal assemblages is proposed for the Sinemurian, the Pliensbachian and the lowermost Toarcian of the Brescian Prealps, in part based on the published data of the authors of this contribution and partly on new results, derived both from recent field investigations and from the study of the historical collection of Lower Jurassic ammonites preserved in the Museum of Natural Sciences of Brescia (Northern Italy). The biohorizons are present in the Liassic carbonate succession of the Brescian Prealps, cropping out between the eastern surroundings of Brescia (Botticino), to the east, and Lake Iseo, to the west. Since the Hettangian this region was subjected to Jurassic rifting. The area of study was located on the eastern border of the wide Lombardian Basin, a part of the southern continental passive margin of Tethys. An articulated fault-system, trending from Brescia to the North, separated the western subsiding area of the Val Trompia-Sebino Basin from the eastern Botticino structural high. After the drowning of the Rhetian-Hettangian Corna Platform, the very thick synrift succession of the Medolo Group accumulated in the Val Trompia-Sebino Basin, whereas the coeval reduced sequence of the Rezzato Encrinite and the overlying Botticino Corso Rosso covered the Botticino High, subsequent to the Early Sinemurian. The ammonite biohorizons and assemblages recognised are quite well integrated and correlable with either the NW European standard zonation or the different zonations proposed for the Tethyan Realm

On the first description of tetrapod footprints from Italy: Re-analysis of the original specimen after 150 years

In Italy, vertebrate ichnology developed rather recently, especially starting from the 70’s of the last century. However, fossil footprints from Italian continental successions were known since the 19th century. The first scientific note was published by Curioni (1870), after a short report on the same material by Geinitz (1869). Curioni described and drew a small slab with tetrapod tracks from the lower Permian strata of Lombardy (Collio Formation, upper Trompia Valley, Brescian Alps), found by the private collector Don Bruni, Priest of Collio. Subsequent publications always referred to that description, but the original specimen was never restudied, due also to the absence of information about the repository (Curioni, 1870). The original specimen belongs to the prestigious Curioni collection (donated by Curioni to the Regio Ufficio Geologico in 1877) and is nowadays located in the Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) in Rome. Grounding on the most advanced ichnological methods, in this paper we provide a redescription of the specimen. The study ultimately confirmed the attribution of the three main tracks (a pes-manus couple and a single manual imprint) to the ichnogenus Amphisauropus, tracks probably produced by seymouriamorph reptiliomorphs. Smaller footprints on the same surface were instead assigned to Dromopus, tracks probably left by diapsid reptiles or bolosaurid parareptiles. The note by Curioni thus represents the first report of vertebrate footprints from Italy, the first description of material assignable to Amphisauropus in the world, and one of the earliest on material referable to Dromopus. The studied slab could also represent the earliest finding of Amphisauropus, although uncertainties on timing of Don Bruni’s discovery exist. We note that only a careful management of the ancient Italian palaeontological heritage allowed our re-analyses of Curioni’s original specimen, almost 150 years after the last study. This study therefore highlights also the role of scientific collections for both preservation and valorisation of geo-palaeontologic heritage.Fil: Marchetti, Lorenzo. Urweltmuseum GEOSKOP; AlemaniaFil: Petti, Fabio Massimo. Museo delle Scienze di Trento; Italia. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Bernardi, Massimo. Museo delle Scienze di Trento; Italia. University of Bristol; Reino UnidoFil: Citton, Paolo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: Rossi, Roberta. Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research; ItaliaFil: Schirolli, Paolo. Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali; Itali

Late Triassic (early-middle Carnian) crurotarsan tracks from the Val Sabbia Sandstone (eastern Lombardy, Brescian Prealps, Northern Italy)

A new Late Triassic tetrapod tracksite was discovered north of the Zone village, on the north-eastern side of the Iseo Lake (Southern Alps, Brescia, Lombardy). The tracks are preserved on two distinct bedding planes, belonging to the lower/middle Carnian Val Sabbia Sandstone. The ichnoassemblage is composed of about seventy footprints, organized in six quadrupedal trackways exhibiting both wide and narrow gauge. All the trackways can be attributed to a crurotarsan archosaur trackmaker and at least three of them could be assigned with confidence to the ichnogenus Brachychirotherium Beurlen 1950. If we exclude a dubious Brachychirotherium specimen track from Mt. Pelmetto (Dolomites), the Zone material represents the first well documented report of this ichnogenus from the Upper Triassic of Northern Italy. The footprints have been analyzed both with traditional methods, and with 3D technologies, such as the terrestrial laser scanner. The ichnoassemblage, although not exceptionally preserved, adds new important data for the stratigraphic distribution of crurotarsan tracks in the Triassic of Southern Alps