Elisabeth Pereira

Castiglione (Oletta, Corsica): relationships between phenomena of calcification and tectonic fossiliferous fracture dating

Six cavities have been discovered in the Oletta massif. The massif, today constitued of Schistes lustres with several metres of calcareous layers above them, has undergone intense fracturing. The networks of cavities are organised along north–south and subequatorial directions, and form a narrow bayonnet-network. All the elements in the galleries appear to be karstic: stalagmites, stalactites and calcitic deposits along the walls; but no trace of dissolution or excavation was found. Thus, the origin of the galleries is only tectonic, while the calcitic deposits result from the dissolution of the old, thick calcareous layers above, which are no longer present. The thickness and the volume of the calcitic deposits, which is variable depending on the galleries, indicates the chronology of the different tectonic periods which have fractured the massif. Five tectonic and successsive events have been detected. Calcitic datings confirm the timing of successional fracturing, indicating also the variable age of the fossiliferous Middle Pleistocene deposits found in these cavities.

Cyrnolutra castiglionis, une nouvelle forme de loutre (Mustelidae, Lutrinae), dans un dépôt du Pléistocène moyen « Castiglione 3CG » (Oletta, Haute-Corse)

Abstract Some otter remains have been collected from the Middle Pleistocene deposit of Castiglione cave (Oletta, Corsica). These remains are compared with the other Pleistocene lutrines found in Corsica, Sardinia, Malta, and Sicily. They are also compared to the recent Lutra lutra . The metrical and morphological comparisons make it possible to identify this new extinct Corsican otter which can be attributed to the subfamily Lutrinae, to a new genus Cyrnolutra , and to a new species Cyrnolutra castiglionis . The Castiglione otter was probably very well adapted to a riverine aquatic way of life.