Raffaele Sardella

BIOCHRONOLOGY OF SELECTED MAMMALS, MOLLUSCS AND OSTRACODS FROM THE MIDDLE PLIOCENE TO THE LATE PLEISTOCENE IN ITALY. THE STATE OF THE ART

The Authors have elaborated four range charts of mammalian (large and micro), molluscs and fresh-water and brackish ostracodes faunas, for the selected Plio-Pleistocene fossiliferous localities of the Italy. A new Mammal Age (Aurelian) correlatable to late Middle and Late Pleistocene has been defined. Inside this age two Faunal Units (Torre in Pietra and Vitinia) have been defined as characteristic for Early and Middle Aurelian, while no gisements have been chosen for the late Aurelian. Biochronological units are calibrated on magnetostratigraphic and isotopic scales and by radiometric datings.

HYSTRIX REFOSSA GERVAIS, 1852 FROM PIRRO NORD (EARLY PLEISTOCENE, SOUTHERN ITALY)

We describe fossil remains attributable to genus Hystrix , collected from fissure filings in the area between Apricena and Poggio Imperiale (Apulia, Italy). The vertebrate assemblage that yielded these Hystrix remains is known in the literature as Pirro Nord, and is one of the richest Early Pleistocene mammal assemblages from Italy. The porcupine remains from Pirro Nord are attributed to the species Hystrix refossa . The problem of the taxonomy of Plio-Pleistocene hystricids in the framework of their morphological variability is discussed.

THE MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS OF THE ROMAN BASIN (LATIUM, ITALY):AN INTEGRATED APPROACH OF MAMMAL BIOCHRONOLOGY AND SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY

The biochronological setting proposed for the Plio-Pleistocene large mammal faunas of the Italian peninsula is based on the definition of faunal units (FUs) and mammal ages (MAs). Many evidences suggest that a multidisciplinary approach could enable us to better understand the actual meaning of a given faunal assemblage taking into account sedimentological and physical stratigraphic studies of the sedimentary successions in which local mammal faunas occur. The Pleistocene deposits of the Roman Basin can be considered a significant model to test this integrated approach. The detailed study of this sedimentary succession, in terms of facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy, sets some physical and temporal constrains to the occurrence of faunal complexes because the allocyclic control (climate and eustatic variations) on both landscape and stratigraphical evolution can affect the association type of mammal faunas. A correlation scheme between the Roman Pleistocene sequence-stratigraphic units and the mammal biochrons has been proposed; this approach constitutes a first tentative to connect the mammal fauna remains to the sedimentary processes which are responsible of their transport, stock and potential preservation in the depositional environments and to collocate this fauna in the systems tracts of the fourth-order depositional sequences recognised in the local Roman Basin Pleistocene succession.

AMPHIMACHAIRODUS (FELIDAE, MAMMALIA) FROM SAHABI (LATEST MIOCENE-EARLIEST PLIOCENE, LIBYA), WITH A REVIEW OF AFRICAN MIOCENE MACHAIRODONTINAE

We describe and illustrate a partial skull and mandible of a large sabertooth cat from Sahabi, Libya, and refer it to Amphimachairodus aff. A. kabir. A review shows the Miocene Machairodontinae from Africa to be a heterogeneous assemblage, with both small and large forms spanning the entire Late Miocene. The Sahabi form belongs to the group of larger sized taxa, along with A. kabir from Chad and some previously undescribed specimens from the Wembere-Manonga Formation, Tanzania. Both the Sahabi and Chad specimens have relatively slender lower carnassials, similarly to Homotherium, though derived features of the skull and mandible suggest that they are not in the direct ancestry of that genus.

PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION OF TROPHIC CONDITIONS IN A CARBONATE RAMP ENVIRONMENT: THE LITHOTHAMNION LIMESTONE, MAJELLA MOUNTAIN (TORTONIAN–EARLY MESSINIAN, CENTRAL APENNINES, ITALY)

Abstract The Lithothamnion Limestone constitutes the uppermost carbonate unit of the Bolognano Formation outcropping in the Majella structure (Central Apennines, Italy). It represents the northern extension of the large Apulia Carbonate Platform and preserves an excellent record of the progressive decay of trophic conditions due to the approach of foredeep systems characterized by turbiditic siliciclastic sedimentation during the early Messinian. Sedimentological and compositional analyses were used to reconstruct the depositional model and evolution of platform environmental conditions. The profile is consistent with a homoclinal carbonate ramp, with a wide middle-ramp environment in which coralline algae, mainly forming the maërl facies, dominated carbonate production. This facies was associated with seagrass meadows colonizing the inner ramp. The outer ramp was characterized by bioturbated hemipelagic marl with planktonic foraminifera and pectinids in the aphotic zone. Three main stages of ramp evolution have been identified. During the first stage, the ramp was subjected to high-energy wave-dominated conditions, which favored the development of deep rip channels in which accumulations of vertebrate bones have been identified. In the second stage, maërl facies and seagrass meadows developed, initially in an oligotrophic setting, later followed by a slight reduction in light penetration. The third stage involved a general increase in fine terrigenous sediments, together with a further decrease in light and also by the spread of coralline algal bindstone facies. This elevated terrigenous input was associated with increased trophic conditions, as also shown by the occurrence of abundant plankton and low-oxygenated foraminiferal assemblages.

A revision of hominin fossil teeth from Fontana Ranuccio (Middle Pleistocene, Anagni, Frosinone, Italy).

The Fontana Ranuccio hominin teeth (FR, Latium, Italy) are dated to the Middle Pleistocene. In previous studies these teeth were classified as two lower (left and right) second molars, one lower left central incisor and a badly worn incisor crown, the exact position of which could not be determined. In 2012 these remains were acquired by the Anthropological Service of S.B.A.L. (Italian Ministry of Culture) and for this reason re-analysed. In a thorough revision we have reassessed them both morphologically and dimensionally as two lower (left and right) first molars, one lower left lateral incisor and a possible upper left canine. The comparison with penecontemporaneous and diachronic samples shows that the Fontana Ranuccio teeth are morphologically similar to Atapuerca-Sima de los Huesos, Arago XIII and Neanderthal samples.

Medical CT scanning and the study of hidden oral pathologies in fossil carnivores

Skeletal pathologies and oral disease are largely unexplored in fossil carnivores. Dental abnormalities, fractures, trauma, supernumerary teeth, tumours, periodontitis, and other bacterial infections are some of the diseases that leave traces on fossilized skulls, but their identification is not always possible by external observation on the specimen. Moreover a large number of pathologies are “hidden”, partially or completely invisible on the external surface of the bones because their development took place within the bones. The degree and the type of fossilization, the state of preservation and the fossil size are just a few other factors that influence the analysis of these structures. Digital scanning techniques are useful to solve such difficulties. X-ray study can provide valuable information on bone and teeth diseases, by allowing the visualization of the internal structure of the fossil bones, without the alteration and/or destruction of the specimen. Many aspects of the life of carnivores are regulated by their health condition, and in particular by the teeth and jaws conditions, individuals with evident disability due to the pathology and injuries are not able to perform properly some basic activities, such as foraging and defence. This paper presents new methods of non-invasive analysis to identify and understand oral pathologies in fossil carnivores. They can be further explored to obtain detailed palaeoecological reconstructions of their mode of life.KurzfassungSkelett-Pathologien und Mundhöhlenerkrankungen bei fossilen Fleischfressern sind größtenteils unerforscht. Zahnanomalien, Frakturen, Traumata, überzählige Zähne, Tumore, Parodontitis und andere bakterielle Infektionen sind nur einige der Krankheiten, die Spuren auf versteinerten Schädeln hinterlassen, aber ihre Identifizierung ist nicht immer durch eine äußere Beobachtung der Probe möglich. Zudem ist eine große Anzahl von Pathologien “versteckt”, teilweise oder vollständig auf der äußeren Oberfläche der Knochen unsichtbar, da sich ihre Entstehung in den Knochen vollzog. Der Grad und die Art der Versteinerung, der Erhaltungszustand und die Größe des Fossils sind nur einige der Faktoren, welche die Analyse dieser Strukturen beeinflussen. Digitale Scan-Techniken sind dabei durchaus nützlich, solche Schwierigkeiten zu lösen. Mithilfe der Röntgenuntersuchung können wertvolle Informationen über Knochen-und Zahnerkrankungen im Inneren des fossilen Knochenaufbaus dargestellt werden, ohne die jeweilige Probe zu beeinträchtigen und/oder zu zerstören. Viele Aspekte des Lebens von Fleischfressern können an ihren gesundheitlichen Zustand festgestellt werden, insbesondere an dem Zahn - und Kieferzustand. Individuen mit einer erwiesenen Behinderung dieser Strukturen aufgrund von Pathologien und Verletzungen sind nicht in der Lage, einige grundlegende Aktivitäten wie Nahrungssuche und Abwehr ordnungsgemäß durchzuführen. Diese Abhandlung erörtert neue Methoden der nicht-invasiven Analyse, um Mundhöhlenerkrankungen bei fossilen Fleischfressern zu identifizieren und zu verstehen. Sie können somit weitergehend untersucht werden, um eine detaillierte paläoökologische Rekonstruktionen ihrer Lebensweise zu erhalten.

Phylogenetic and functional implications of the ear region anatomy of Glossotherium robustum (Xenarthra, Mylodontidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Argentina

Several detailed studies of the external morphology of the ear region in extinct sloths have been published in the past few decades, and this anatomical region has proved extremely helpful in elucidating the phylogenetic relationships among the members of this mammalian clade. Few studies of the inner ear anatomy in these peculiar animals were conducted historically, but these are increasing in number in recent years, in both the extinct and extant representatives, due to wider access to CT-scanning facilities, which allow non-destructive access to internal morphologies. In the present study, we analyze the extinct ground sloth Glossotherium robustum and provide a description of the external features of the ear region and the endocranial side of the petrosal bone, coupled with the first data on the anatomy of the bony labyrinth. Some features observable in the ear region of G. robustum (e.g., the shape and size of the entotympanic bone and the morphology of the posteromedial surface of the petrosal) are highly variable, both intraspecifically and intraindividually. The form of the bony labyrinth of G. robustum is also described, providing the first data from this anatomical region for the family Mylodontidae. The anatomy of the bony labyrinth of the genus Glossotherium is here compared at the level of the superorder Xenarthra, including all available extant and extinct representatives, using geometric morphometric methods. In light of the new data, we discuss the evolution of inner ear anatomy in the xenarthran clade, and most particularly in sloths, considering the influence of phylogeny, allometry, and physiology on the shape of this highly informative region of the skull. These analyses show that the inner ear of Glossotherium more closely resembles that of the extant anteaters, and to a lesser extent those of the giant ground sloth Megatherium and euphractine armadillos, than those of the extant sloths Bradypus and Choloepus, further demonstrating the striking morphological convergence between the two extant sloth genera.

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.

GROTTA ROMANELLI (SOUTHERN ITALY, APULIA): LEGACIES AND ISSUES IN EXCAVATING A KEY SITE FOR THE PLEISTOCENE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Grotta Romanelli, located on the Adriatic coast of southern Apulia (Italy), is considered a key site for the Mediterranean Pleistocene for its archaeological and palaeontological contents. The site, discovered in 1874, was re-evaluated only in 1900, when P. E. Stasi realised that it contained the first evidence of the Palaeolithic in Italy. Starting in 1914, G.A. Blanc led a pioneering excavation campaign, for the first-time using scientific methods applied to systematic paleontological and stratigraphical studies. Blanc proposed a stratigraphic framework for the cave. Different dating methods (C 14 and U/Th) were used to temporally constrain the deposits. The extensive studies of the cave and its contents were mostly published in journals with limited distribution and access, until the end of the 1970s, when the site became forgotten. In 2015, with the permission of the authorities, a new excavation campaign began, led by a team from Sapienza University of Rome in collaboration with IGAG CNR and other research institutions. The research team had to deal with the consequences of more than 40 years of inactivity in the field and the combined effect of erosion and legal, as well as illegal, excavations. In this paper, we provide a database of all the information published during the first 70 years of excavations and highlight the outstanding problems and contradictions between the chronological and geomorphological evidence, the features of the faunal assemblages and the limestone artefacts.