NEW MATERIAL OF LUTRA SIMPLICIDENS (CARNIVORA, MUSTELIDAE, LUTRINAE), A KEY TAXON FOR UNDERSTANDING THE EVOLUTION OF EUROPEAN OTTERS

Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) is the only otter living in Europe today, but the palaeodiversity of this group during the Pleistocene was much higher. Lutra simplicidens Thenius, 1965 is one of the best-known taxa from the European Quaternary fossil record, having been reported in at least eight localities in Central Europe, Britain, Italy and the Azov Sea area, with a stratigraphic occurrence spanning the mid Early to the Middle Pleistocene. However, no cranial remains of this species have been described so far. Here I analyse some unpublished material of L. simplicidens from the early Middle Pleistocene site of Voigtstedt (Germany), which consists of the right and left P4-M1 of the same individual and a complete left humerus. The comparative study of these findings highlights a number of morphological and biometrical similarities between L. simplicidens and some Mediterranean Quaternary otters, such as Lutraeximia umbra Cherin et al., 2016 from central Italy, Lutraeximia trinacriae (Burgio & Fiore, 1988) from Sicily, Sardolutra ichnusae (Malatesta, 1977) from Sardinia and Lutrogale cretensis (Symeonides & Sondaar, 1975) from Crete. These species - together with the living Lutrogale perspicillata (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1826) - form a monophyletic clade, which most probably includes also L. simplicidens, as well as several other Eurasian extinct taxa only known by fragmentary remains. These results confirm the pivotal importance of L. simplicidens for the evolution of European otters and lead to doubts about its taxonomic status, which will be solved with the discovery of new material

Synchrotron radiation reveals the identity of the large felid from Monte Argentario (Early Pleistocene, Italy)

We describe here a partial skull with associated mandible of a large felid from Monte Argentario, Italy (Early Pleistocene; ~1.5 million years). Propagation x-ray phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography of the specimen, still partially embedded in the rock matrix, allows ascribing it reliably to Acinonyx pardinensis, one of the most intriguing extinct carnivorans of the Old World Plio-Pleistocene. The analysis of images and 3D models obtained through synchrotron microtomography – here applied for the first time on a Plio-Pleistocene carnivoran – reveals a mosaic of cheetah-like and Panthera-like features, with the latter justifying previous attributions of the fossil to the extinct Eurasian jaguar Panthera gombaszoegensis. Similarly, we reassign to A. pardinensis some other Italian materials previously referred to P. gombaszoegensis (sites of Pietrafitta and Ellera di Corciano). The recognition of Panthera-like characters in A. pardinensis leads to reconsidering the ecological role of this species, whose hunting strategy was likely to be different from those of the living cheetah. Furthermore, we hypothesise that the high intraspecific variation in body size in A. pardinensis can be the result of sexual dimorphism, as observed today in all large-sized felids

Large mammal remains from the early pleistocene site of Podere San Lorenzo (Perugia, Central Italy)

Most of the research on fossil mammals from Umbria (central Italy) has been carried out in the southwestern branch of the Tiber basin, due to its paleontological richness. This portion of the basin extends from Perugia to Terni and corresponds to a well-defined half-graben filled with fluvial-lacustrine deposits. The paleontological sample presented here was discovered in a sand and gravel quarry at Podere San Lorenzo, East of the town of Deruta. The stratigraphic succession exposed in the quarry is no longer visible, but we describe here a new outcrop (Palazzone), which is not far from Podere San Lorenzo and shows comparable facies associations. The two successions were deposited in a fluvial environment characterized by an average reduction of the hydrodynamic energy from the bottom upwards. They are referred to the Early Pleistocene Santa Maria di Ciciliano Subsyntheme (Madonna dei Bagni Lithofacies). Large mammal remains are attributed to Mammuthus cf. meridionalis (Nesti, 1825), Stephanorhinus etruscus (Falconer, 1859), Equus stenonis Cocchi, 1867, Leptobos cf. etruscus (Falconer, 1868), ‘Pseudodama’ nestii (Azzaroli, 1947), and Sus strozzii Forsyth Major, 1881. Some hyena coprolites are also reported. The assemblage is typical of the early Late Villafranchian Land Mammal Age and can be referred to the Olivola/Tasso Faunal Units (about 2.0–1.8 Ma). This is in agreement with the alleged age of some other assemblages found in the southwestern branch of the Tiber basin (e.g., Torre Picchio, Villa San Faustino, Colle Sant’Andrea, Pantalla)

Suidae Transition at the Miocene-Pliocene Boundary : a Reassessment of the Taxonomy and Chronology of Propotamochoerus provincialis

The Miocene-Pliocene (Turolian-Ruscinian) transition represents a fundamental interval in the evolution of Euro-Mediterranean paleocommunities. In fact, the paleoenvironmental changes connected with the end of the Messinian salinity crisis are reflected by a major renewal in mammal faunal assemblages. An important bioevent among terrestrial large mammals is the dispersal of the genus Sus, which replaced all other suid species during the Pliocene. Despite its possible paleoecological and biochronological relevance, correlations based on this bioevent are undermined by the supposed persistence of the late surviving late Miocene Propotamochoerus provincialis. However, a recent revision of the type material of this species revealed an admixture with remains of Sus strozzii, an early Pleistocene (Middle Villafranchian to Epivillafranchian) suid, questioning both the diagnosis and chronological range of P. provincialis. Here we review the late Miocene Suidae sample recovered from the Casino Basin (Tuscany, central Italy), whose taxonomic attribution has been controversial over the nearly 150 years since its discovery. Following a comparison with other Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene Eurasian species, the Casino Suidae are assigned to P. provincialis and the species diagnosis is emended. Moreover, it is recognized that all the late Miocene (Turolian) European Propotamochoerus material belongs to P. provincialis and that there is no compelling evidence of the occurrence of this species beyond the Turolian-Ruscinian transition (MN13-MN14)

A lynx natural brain endocast from Ingarano (Southern Italy; Late Pleistocene). Taphonomic, Morphometric and Phylogenetic approaches

A natural brain endocast from the Late Pleistocene site of Ingarano (Apulia, Southern Italy) has been investigated in detail using CT scanning, image processing techniques and Geometric Morphometrics to obtain information about the taxonomy and taphonomy of the specimen. Based on its characteristically felid shape, we compared several measurements of the endocast with those of the brains of living Felidae, with a special emphasis on Panthera pardus, Lynx lynx and Felis silvestris earlier reported from the same locality. The applied combination of techniques revealed that this specimen is morphometrically closest to the brains of lynxes, and so can be reported as the first natural endocranial cast of Late Pleistocene Lynx sp. In addition, CT scanning of the Ingarano endocast allowed us to reconstruct the early stages of its taphonomy (i.e., the process of infilling of the braincase with the sediment)

Systematic revision and phylogenetic assessment of the foraminiferal family Globivalvulinidae

We present a systematic and phylogenetic revision of the Carboniferous–Permian subfamilies usually included within the family Globivalvulinidae (superfamily Biseriamminoidea), based for the first time on the interrelation between a morphological/structural approach (traditionally used for this fossil group) and a cladistic analysis (rarely applied to Palaeozoic Foraminifera). The systematic review of the globivalvulinid genera defines a new composition of the already existing four subfamilies of Globivalvulinidae (Globivalvulininae, Paraglobivalvulininae, Dagmaritinae, and Paradagmaritinae). The phylogenetic analysis of the Globivalvulinidae is aimed at understanding and reconstructing the relationships between its four subfamilies. The resulting phylogenetic tree is obtained by means of fifteen qualitative and one quantitative characters. The analysis shows that the Globivalvulinidae represents a monophyletic clade having the subfamily Globivalvulininae as the first taxon to branch out. The close affinity between the Dagmaritinae and Paradagmaritinae is confirmed

Vigna Nuova : the first Middle Villafranchian mammal assemblage from the Valdichiana Basin, Perugia (Italy)

The region of Umbria (Central Italy) represents one of the most interesting areas for the study of Mediterranean Plio-Pleistocene mammal faunas due to the occurrence of numerous paleontological deposits. Most of the fossils have been discovered within the Tiberino Basin, which extends across the centre of the territory for ca. 1800 km2, and the small Tavernelle-Pietrafitta Basin, south of Lake Trasimeno. Herein, we provide an additional report on an assemblage within continental deposits from the locality of Vigna Nuova (Piegaro, Perugia) in the Valdichiana Basin, which are observed to crop out in only a few areas of western Umbria. Taphonomic and geological evidence, coupled with rare excavation notes, have allowed the sample to be divided into two assemblages. The younger was collected from the conglomerates (here called "upper layer") which are still visible on the outcrop and is composed only of remains of cf. Leptobos. The data obtained from this fragmentary sample together with some sedimentological-stratigraphic considerations suggest that it can be correlated with other well-known Valdichiana assemblages (e.g., Selvella, Farneta), dated at ca. 1.5 Ma. The older sub-sample comes from a putative paleosol (here called "lower layer") no longer visible in the field. It includes cf. Megantereon, Canis sp., Mustelidae indet., Proboscidea indet., Equus cf. senezensis, cf. Leptobos, Croizetoceros ramosus, Pseudodama sp., Cervidae indet. (large size), and Sus cf. strozzii. This assemblage can be referred to the Coste San Giacomo Faunal Unit (late Middle Villafranchian; ca. 2.2-2.1 Ma). It represents the first wellpreserved sample of this age in Umbria and one of the few recorded in Italy, opening new interesting research perspectives on the distribution of mammals within the Peninsula and also on the stratigraphy and evolution of the Valdichiana Basin. "Aggiungeva che per scavare le poche ossa che mi avrebbe subito inviate aveva dovuto faticare enormemente e lottare per due giorni contro ogni sorta di difficoltà. Ricevuto il graditissimo invio mi affrettai a consolidare e restaurare con ogni cura quelle primizie ed oggi sono lieto di poter annunziare, in così solenne adunanza, la interessante scoperta…" ("He added that in order to excavate the few bones that he would immediately send me he had had to work enormously and struggle for two days against all sorts of difficulties. Having received the very welcome shipment, I hastened to consolidate and restore those fruits of the soil with every care and today I am pleased to be able to announce, in such a solemn meeting, the interesting discovery…"). Giovanni Capellini, 189

3D Survey in Extreme Environment: The Case Study of LaetoliHominin Footprints in Tanzania

Many cultural assets are in risky situations and they are destined to disappear. Sometimes problems are caused bythe anthropic component (e.g. wars) or by natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes and landslides). At other times thecause of deterioration is due to the slow and inexorable action of atmospheric agents and other natural factorspresent in extreme areas, where preservation of Cultural Heritage is more complex.This contribution deals with 3D documentation of paleontological excavations in extreme contexts that arecharacterized by unfavorable climatic conditions, limited instrumentation and little time available. In particular, thecontribution is focused on the search for a good working procedure which, despite the problems mentioned above,can lead to valid results in terms of accuracy and precision, so that subsequent scientific studies are notcompromised. The proposed case study concerns the recent discovery of fossil footprints at the Site S in Laetoli,within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the newdiscovery of Site S it was necessary to implement a 3D survey operative protocol with limited equipment and in avery short time. The 3D models, obtained through the “Structure from Motion” (SfM) technique and topographicsupport, were used to perform morphological and morphometric investigations on the new footprints. Through theanalysis it was possible to estimate height and weight of the footprint makers (hominins of the speciesAustralopithecus afarensis). The collected evidence supports marked intraspecific variation in this species, pointingout the occurrence of a considerable difference in size between sexes and suggesting inferences on reproductivebehavior and social structure of these ancient bipedal hominins.The contribution shows how important is to obtain good 3D documentation, even in extreme environment, in orderto reach reliable results for scientific analysis

the early pleistocene whale fall community of bargiano umbria central italy paleoecological insights from benthic foraminifera and brachyuran crabs

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