Reinhard Ziegler

Erinaceidae and Dimylidae (Lipotyphla) from the Upper Middle Miocene of South Germany

The erinaceids and dimylids from the South German fissure fill sites Petersbuch 6, 10, 18, 31, 35 and 48 include at least six species, among them the by far most abundant samples ofParasorex socialis known thus far. The phylogenetic relationships of the Miocene galericine genera of Europe are outlined. All genera are characterised by their apomorphic characters.G. symeonidisi is the most advancedGalerix species. The most conspicuous character ofDeinogalerix is its gigantism. The genusParasorex is monospecific. As the speciesdepereti andiberica have an at least incipiently divided mesostyle they are referred toSchizogalerix. The apomorph characters of the erinaceine generaAmphechinus, Mioechinus andPostpalerinaceus are outlined. The genusMioechinus is restricted to its type species. The dimylids are extremely rare,Metacordylodon aff.schlosseri being represented by two specimens of the Petersbuch 35 fauna.Plesiodimylus chantrei, a very common dimylid in the Miocene of Europe, is obviously mainly replaced byParasorex socialis. Both species had similar habitat demands and have been vicariants. The composition of the erinaceid and dimylid fauna fits well a late Mid Miocene correlation (MN 7/8), as established by the rodent faunas. The abundance ofParasorex and the presence of dimylids indicate a forest component in the environment of the area and the proximity of water.KurzfassungDie Erinaceiden- und Dimylidenfauna aus den süddeutschen Karstspaltenfüllungen von Petersbuch 6, 10, 18, 31, 35 und 48 beinhaltet mindestens sechs Arten, darunter die mit Abstand reichsten Stichproben vonParasorex socialis. Die phylogenetischen Beziehungen der miozänen Galericinen-Gattungen von Europa werden skizziert. Die apomorphen Merkmale aller Gattungen werden aufgelistet.Galerix symeonidisi ist die fortschrittlichste Art. Das auffälligste Merkmal vonDeinogalerix ist seine Großwüchsigkeit. Die GattungParasorex ist monospezifisch. Das die Artendepereti undiberica ein zumindest oberflächlich gespaltenes Mesostyl haben, werden sie der GattungSchizogalerix zugeordnet. Die Apomorphien der Erinaceinen-GattungenAmphechinus, Mioechinus undPostpalerinaceus werden aufgelistet. Die GattungMioechinus ist monospefisch. Die Dimyliden sind sehr spärlich vertreten. VonMetacordylodon aff.schlosseri gibt es nur zwei Exemplare von Petersbuch 35.Plesiodimylus chantrei, ein sehr häufiger Dimylide im Miozän von Europa, ist offensichtlich durchParasorex socialis ersetzt. Beide Arten hatten ähnlich Biotopanforderungen und waren Vikarianten. Die Zusammensetzung der Erinaceiden- und Dimylidenfauna spricht für eine mittelmiozäne Korrelation (MN 7/8), wie sie von den Nagern erarbeitet wurde. Die Häufigkeit vonParasorex und die Präsenz von Dimyliden zeigen die Nähe von Bäumen und Gewässern an.

The Miocene Fossil-Lagerstätte Sandelzhausen, 17. Marsupialia, Lipotyphla and Chiroptera (Mammalia)

The marsupials, insectivores and bats from Sandelzhausen, including the finds from the excavation campaigns until 1997, are presented.Amphiperatherium frequens is only sparsely represented. More than two thirds of the specimens are fromGalerix aff.exilis, Proscapanus sansaniensis andDinosorex aff.zapfei. The evolutionary level ofGalerix aff.exilis allows the correlation of the fauna with the Upper Orleanian which corresponds to the MN 5 unit. In the fauna inhabitants of forests and (semi) aquatic forms can be identified, but no inhabitants of open and arid environments. In the layers above the coal seam (upper pebbly marls) there are much less finds than in the layers below (lower pebbly marls). From the minor differences in the quantitative composition of the fauna from both layers no essential alterations in the environment can be seen.KurzfassungDie Beuteltiere, Insektenfresser und Fledermäuse von Sandelzhausen einschließlich der Funde aus den Grabungen bis 1997 werden vorgestellt.Amphiperatherium frequens spielt mengenmäßig eine untergeordnete Rolle. Über zwei Drittel der Funde sind vonGalerix aff.exilis, Proscapanus sansaniensis undDinosorex aff.zapfei. Das Evolutionsniveau vonGalerix aff.exilis erlaubt die Einstufung der Fauna in das obere Orleanium, entsprechend MN 5. In der Fauna lassen sich Bewohner von Wäldern und (semi-)aquatische Formen, nicht aber Bewohner offener und trockener Habitate identifizieren. In den Schichten über der Kohlelage (obere Geröllmergel) gibt es wesentlich weniger Funde als in den Lagen darunter (untere Geröllmergel). Aus den geringfügigen Unterschieden in der quantitativen Zusammenstzung der Faunen aus beiden Lagen lassen sich keine wesentlichen Veränderungen der Umwelt folgern.

Marsupialia und Insectivora (Mammalia) aus den oberoligozänen Spaltenfüllungen Herrlingen 8 und Herrlingen 9 bei Ulm (Baden-Württemberg)

KurzfassungDie Didelphiden und Insektivoren von Herrlingen 8 (Niveau von Pech du Fraysse, MP 28) und von Herrlingen 9 (Niveau von Rickenbach, MP 29) werden vorgestellt und deren Beziehungen zu Faunen ähnlichen Alters werden diskutiert. Unter den Soriciden werden drei neue Arten beschrieben:Quercysorex ulmensis n. sp.,Srinitium caeruleum n. sp. undUlmensia antecedens n. sp. Die Didelphiden- und Insectivorenfaunen gestatten die Einstufung in das jüngere Oberoligozän. Die Fauna von Herrlingen 8 enthält mehr Formen eines bewaldeten Habitats.AbstractThe didelphids and insectivores of Herrlingen 8 (standard level of Pech du Fraysse, MP 28) and of Herrlingen 9 (standard level of Rickenbach, MP 29) are presented and their relationships to faunas of comparable age are discussed. Among the soricids three new species are described:Quercysorex ulmensis n. sp.,Srinitium caeruleum n. sp. andUlmensia antecedens n. sp. The didelphid and insectivore faunas allow correlation with the higher part of the Upper Oligocene. The fauna of Herrlingen 8 contains more forms from a forested habitat than Herrlingen 9.

Bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia) from Middle Miocene karstic fissure fillings of Petersbuch near Eichstätt, Southern Franconian Alb (Bavaria)

Abstract The bats from the karstic fissure fill sites Petersbuch 6, 10, 18, 31, 35 and 48 include 14 species, four of which are new. All samples are numerically dominated by rhinolophids, especially by Rhinolophus delphinensis. The rich samples from Petersbuch 6-18 are striking in their high species diversity (seven species each). Myotis bavaricus nov. sp. is characterised by a series of plesiomorphous characters, while Myotis reductus nov. sp. is more derived. A special trait of Submyotodon petersbuchensis nov. gen. nov. sp. is the coexistence of nyctalodont and (sub-) myotodont molars in one dentary. Miniopterus rummeli nov. sp. is characterised by its large size, a high coronoid process and its widely spaced lower premolars. Composition and origin of the chiropteran faunas are discussed. They are interpreted as an accumulation of bats that perished in the cave or rock crevice and to a negligible extent as remains of owl pellets. The stratigraphic correlation of the faunas, based on rodents, is late Middle Miocene (MN 7/8). This study is based on several thousand specimens.

Shrews (Soricidae, Mammalia) from Middle Miocene karstic fissure fill sites of Petersbuch near Eichstätt, Southern Franconian Alb (Bavaria)

The shrews from the karstic fissure fill sites Petersbuch 6, 10, 18, 31, 35, 48 include seven species,Paenesorex biscuspis n. gen. n. sp. being new. It is a primitive Soricini, characterised by an incipient soricine morphology along with reduction of the m3 that excludes it from theSorex ancestry. The entire soricid fauna is composed of some advanced elements, the Blarinellini, and species we expect in the Middle Miocene. The biostratigraphic correlation with the units MN 7+8, established by rodents, is corroborated by the soricids.KurzfassungDie Spitzmäuse aus den Karstspaltenfüllungen Petersbuch 6, 10, 18, 31, 35 und 48 beinhalten sieben Arten, wovonPaenesorex biscupis n. gen. n. sp. neu ist. Dies ist ein ursprünglicher Vertreter der Soricini, gekennzeichnet durch das gemeinsame Auftreten einer beginnenden soricinen Morphologie und der Reduktion des m3, was sie von der Ahnenschaft vonSorex ausschließt. Die gesamte Soricidenfauna setzt sich aus fortschrittlichen Formen, den Blarinellini, und Arten zusammen, die im Mittel-Miozän zu erwarten sind. Die mittels der Nagetiere etablierte biostratigraphische Einstufung in MN 7+8 lässt sich anhand der Soriciden bestätigen.

Biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of a Middle Miocene (Karpathian, MN 5) fauna from the northern margin of the North Alpine Foreland Basin (Oggenhausen 2, SW' Germany)

The Oggenhausen fauna from the northern margin of the North Alpine Foreland Basin includes eight gastropod species, various crustacean claws, four fish species, twelve amphibian species, eight reptile species, a few indeterminate bird remains and 23 mammal species. The rodent fauna, especially the coexistence of the hamsters Megacricetodon aff. bavaricus and Megacricetodon aff. minor, allow for the most precise stratigraphic correlation within the MN 5 unit. It is younger than the faunas of Puttenhausen classic, Engelswies and Schellenfeld, but older than Ebershausen, Mohrenhausen, Furth and Frohberg. The vertebrate assemblage indicates a mixed environment with a shallow lake, ample vegetation nearby and an open hinterland. According to the aquatic inverte brates there were also ephemeral waters or marginal lakes portions that periodically dried out. The terrestrial gastropods suggest the co-existence of both wet, woody habitats, and more open environments.

The bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia) from the Late Oligocene fissure fillings Herrlingen 8 and Herrlingen 9 near Ulm (Baden-Württemberg)

The bats of the Late Oligocene faunas Herrlingen 8 (standard level of Pech du Fraysse, MP 28) and Herrlingen 9 (standard level of Rickenbach, MP 29) are presented and their relationships to earlier and later species are discussed. Six new species are established:Megaderma herrlingensis n. sp.,Vaylatsia ulmensis n. sp.,Vaylatsia maxima n. sp.,Myotis minor n. sp.,Myotis intermedius n. sp. andMyotis major n. sp. The investigations are based on ca. 1.700 isolated teeth, jaw fragments and humerus fragments. The composition and the origin of both bat faunas are discussed.KurzfassungDie Fledermäuse der oberoligozänen Faunen von Herrlingen 8 (Niveau von Pech du Fraysse, MP 28) und von Herrlingen 9 (Niveau von Rickenbach, MP 29) werden vorgestellt und ihre Beziehungen zu bekannten, jüngeren und älteren Arten werden diskutiert. Es werden sechs neue Arten aufgestellt:Megaderma herrlingensis n. sp.,Vaylatsia ulmensis n. sp.,Vaylatsia maxima n. sp.,Myotis minor n. sp.,Myotis intermedius n. sp. undMyotis major n. sp. Die Untersuchungen basieren auf ca. 1.700 Funden von isolierten Zähnen, Unterkiefer- und Humerusbruchstücken. Zusammensetzung und Entstehung der Chiropterenfaunen beider Fundstellen werden diskutiert.

Orogeny forced terrestrial climate variation during the late Eocene–early Oligocene in Europe

Terrestrial climatic data reflect variable and often conflicting responses to the global cooling event at the Eocene-Oligocene transition (ca. 34 Ma). Stable isotopic compositions of the tooth enamel of large, water-dependent, herbivorous terrestrial mammals are investigated here to better understand the European continental climate during the late Eocene–early Oligocene. High δ18OPO4 and δ13C values reflect a semiarid climate and ecosystem in the late Eocene. In the west-southwest region of Europe, these conditions prevailed until at least 33 Ma, after which it became more humid. A similar change was recorded north of the Alpine thrust, but it occurred 2 m.y. earlier. The north and west-southwest regions show a significant offset in δ18OPO4 composition between 35 and 31 Ma, indicating the influence of different air trajectories with different moisture sources (Atlantic versus Tethys). This also marks the presence of an orographic height in central Europe from the latest Eocene. After 31 Ma, a large drop in δ18OPO4 is registered, explained by altitude-induced fractionation on meteoric water isotopic composition. The related paleoaltitude change is estimated to be 1200 m, and the uplift could have taken place along the Alpine-Dinaridic orogenic system.

Suggested guidelines for invasive sampling of hominid remains

The last few years have witnessed remarkable technical developments in paleoanthropology. On the one hand, accurate imaging techniques have limited the need to access actual specimens. On the other hand, direct dating, isotopic studies, and the study of ancient DNA, proteins, and microstructures have experienced great technical improvements but still require a degree of invasive sampling. The power of these invasive approaches for answering important questions in evolutionary anthropology brings forward the question of how to balance preservation of fossil hominid remains for the future against the application of current scientific analyses. In order to address these issues, a workshop was hosted by the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig on April 26– 27, 2007 where the issues that emanate from the need for sampling of hominid remains versus the need for preservation of specimens for the future were discussed. At the end of the meeting, the participants produced a set of recommendations that might be useful to museums and other institutions as well as scientists that have to make decisions on requests for invasive sampling of hominid remains.

Oligocene and early Miocene mammal biostratigraphy of the Valley of Lakes in Mongolia

The Taatsiin Gol Basin in Mongolia is a key area for understanding the evolution and dispersal of Central Asian mammal faunas during the Oligocene and early Miocene. After two decades of intense fieldwork, the area is extraordinarily well sampled and taxonomically well studied, yielding a large dataset of 19,042 specimens from 60 samples. The specimens represent 176 species-level and 99 genus-level taxa comprising 135 small mammal species and 47 large mammals. A detailed lithostratigraphy and new magnetostratigraphic and radiometric datings provide an excellent frame for these biotic data. Therefore, we test and evaluate the informal biozonation scheme that has been traditionally used for biostratigraphic correlations within the basin. Based on the analysis of the huge dataset, a formalised biostratigraphic scheme is proposed. It comprises the Cricetops dormitor Taxon Range Zone (Rupelian), subdivided into the Allosminthus khandae Taxon Range Subzone and the Huangomys frequens Abundance Subzone, the Amphechinus taatsiingolensis Abundance Zone (early Chattian), the Amphechinus major Taxon Range Zone (late Chattian), subdivided into the Yindirtemys deflexus Abundance Subzone and the Upper Amphechinus major T. R. Z., and the Tachyoryctoides kokonorensis Taxon Range Zone (Aquitanian). In statistical analyses, samples attributed to these biozones form distinct clusters, indicating that each biozone was also characterised by a distinct faunal type.