Mammalian Paleontology

Observation: Please note this is a major update with 11,468 entries (and corrections) from previous lists published online between July 2017 and January 2018.

This list include papers, conference papers, chapters, books, theses and dissertations - It does not include abstracts (but extended abstracts).

Please do not change the list or include any reference. Any inclusion (I'm sure there will be many) or correction, please forward me directly to the email
<[email protected]>

I also ask that, whenever you quote this list, please give the credit as follows:
De Luna P. 2018. South America Vertebrate Paleontology Reference List (1774-2018) (1774-2018) - version 20180325
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23993.06248
at
http://www.mediafire.com/file/1r8ki2kg0atkstx/VPSA_20180818_PDF_final.pdf

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Pedro De Luna, Ph.D. (aka Peter Moon)
Post-doc fellow at the Biosciences Institute, Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo-SP Brazil

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 Eoceneearly Oligocene. High d 18 O PO 4 and d 13 C 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 d 18 O PO 4 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 d 18 O PO 4 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.

Carnivores from the Late Pliocene site ofV celáre 2 are described and their taxonomy is discussed. The carnivore assemblage includes nine specimens of the families Felidae ( Homotherium crenatidens ), Ursidae ( Ursus minimus ), and Ailuridae ( Parailurus sp.). The scimitar-toothed cat and ursid are common representatives of the Pliocene European fauna, whereas the lesser panda is probably a new species of Parailurus , which differs from both Pliocene species, P. anglicus and P. hungaricus. As a part of a more or less uniform Pliocene carnivore fauna of the Northern Hemisphere, theV celáre 2 assemblage represents a forest and (or) open grassland environment.

Six samples of subfossil tusk, bone and tooth remains from the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius Blum) were discovered in south-western Hungary. The remains are relatively well preserved in a Late Pleistocene loess deposit. The samples have been radiocarbon dated (AMS) and are of Late Weichselian (MIS 2) age (21.8-24.1 ka cal BP). The skull fragments, the tusks and maxillary teeth are in close proximity to associated postcranial remains, indicating that the mammoth died where it was found. The size and characteristics of skeletal elements have allowed us to determine that this was a mature male of about 38 years of age.

Since chimpanzee and bonobo ancestors were evolutionarily closer to the Homo/Pan last common ancestor than extant members of Pan, they probably had more humanlike traits than extant chimps or bonobos. This implies that the presence of humanlike traits in australopithecines (such as a vertical spine, low ilia, smaller canines, thick enamel etc.) does not necessarily indicate human ancestry.

Most paleo-anthropologists conventionally assume that the australopithecines were ancestors of humans (but not of Pan or Gorilla) because they were bipedal. Different lines of evidence (e.g. centrally-placed spines in hominoids, versus dorsally-placed spines in monkeys), however, suggest that not only humans, gibbons and siamangs (who still have habitually vertical spines) had more bipedal ancestors, but all hominoids. This implies that the presence of "bipedal traits" in fossil hominoids does not define human ancestry.

There are a lot of fossil apes in Europe (dryopithecines) as well as in Asia (fossil pongids), but it is traditionally assumed that virtually all fossil hominid fossils in Africa are closer relatives of humans than of gorillas, chimps or bonobos. This is statistically impossible: why should there be plenty of fossil apes in Europe as well as in Asia, but virtually no fossil apes in Africa? Why are all hominid fossils in Africa traditionally assumed to be closer relatives of Homo than of Pan or Gorilla?

This presentation shows that the traditional views that australopithecines are human relatives to the exclusion of Pan and Gorilla, and that human ancestors became bipedal when they moved from the forest to the open plane, are exclusively based on anthropocentric preassumptions, and are contradicted by the comparative anatomy and all other available evidence. We propose alternative hypotheses, fully supported by comparative biology.

The papers in this volume provide a variety of perspectives on Rangifer (caribou/reindeer) and its use by prehistoric peoples in the northern latitudes of both Old and New Worlds. Since the early work of Lartet and Christy in the late 1800s and their recognition of "L' Age du Renne, use of Rangifer (reindeer) by prehistoric Europeans has been well known.  Less understood has been the actual economic significance of Rangifer, as compared with other food sources, and its relationship to human ranging and social behavior during the Upper Paleolithic.

The Expo / Mammoth 2010 is a cultural product derivative of the interdisciplinary project "Study of the Pleistocene megafauna in Guerrero Creek. Guadalupe, Zacatecas. First field season: surface collection at the study area and stratigraphic controlled collecting at the site Puente Calabacillas, approved by the National Council of Archaeology (National Institute of Anthropology and History)
The first objective of the exhibition is based in a holistic, interdisciplinary develop an approach around the settlement
of the first human groups and mega Pleistocene fauna in the north central region Mexico. By documenting particular
ecological characteristics of some species animals, and explains the possible circumstances that caused the extinction of the megafauna. The second objective is based on restoring
scientific research in the process of classification and ordering information paleontological excavations provide.

Postcranial remains of the early to middle Miocene bulungamayine kangaroo Ganguroo bilamina Cooke, 1997 are described. This is one of only two reports (see also Kear et al. this volume) of bulungamayine postcranials and describes some of the oldest postcranial material known for macropodoids. Functional analysis suggests a hopping gait, though the well developed forelimbs and scapular morphology indicate consistent use of more quadrupedal progression. Phylogenetic analyses using postcranial characters place G. bilamina as the sister taxon to macropodids. This supports the conclusions of Case (1984), Woodburne (1984), Cooke (1997a, b), Kear (1998), Cooke & Kear (1999) and Kear & Cooke (this volume) in advocating a revised position for Bulungamayinae.

Background: The importance of the cervical vertebrae as part of the skull–neck system in facilitating the success and diversity of tetrapods is clear. The reconstruction of its evolution, however, is problematic because of the variation in the number of vertebrae, making it difficult to identify homologous elements. Quantification of the morphological differentiation in the neck of diverse archosaurs established homologous units of vertebrae (i.e. modules) resulting from Hox gene expression patterns within the cervical vertebral column. The present study aims to investigate the modularity of the cervical vertebral column in the mouse and to reveal the genetic patterns and changes underlying the evolution of the neck of modern mammals and their extinct relatives. In contrast to modern mammals, non-mammalian synapsids are characterized by a variable cervical count, the presence of free cervical ribs and the presence of a separate CV1 centrum. How might these evolutionary modifications be associated with changes in the Hox code?

C’erano elefanti in Italia prima dell'arrivo di Pirro? E 'difficile immaginare che due o trecentomila anni fa la campagna romana era attraversato da branchi di elefanti, ma il territorio di Roma è tra i più ricchi al mondo per l’enorme quantità di siti con resti fossili databili tra il Pliocene e il Pleisocene. I primi ritrovamenti risalgono alla metà del 500 e continuano fino alla urbanizzazione moderna, che ha sepolto sotto il cemento, un grande quantità di siti in cui erano stati scoperti resti fossili
La campagna romana costituiva, nel passato, un ambiente particolarmente favorevole, sia per gli esseri umani e per gli altri mammiferi. Tra i numerosi animali che hanno accompagnato la presenza dell'uomo in queste terre, gli elefanti costituiscono una realtà curiosa, quasi incredibile da immaginare oggi nei territori altamente antropizzati della capitale italiana.
I protagonisti di questo libro sono gli elefanti e le loro relazioni con l'ambiente e gli esseri umani nel corso del tempo. Gli argomenti trattati comprendono, problematiche geologiche climatiche e ambientali e inoltre molti temi di carattere paleontologico, antropologico ed evolutivo.
Per la prima volta sono pubblicati tutti i dati relativi alle centinaia di resti fossili di elefanti rinvenuti nel tempo nel territorio di Roma. Inoltre sono presentati siti e musei in cui è possibile acquisire informazioni più dettagliate.
Infine sono presi in considerazione  i problemi legati al ruolo di questo grande mammifero nell'immaginario collettivo, dalla sua rappresentazione nell'arte preistorica fino alla sua influenza, reale e simbolica, nella storia antica e la sua iconografia in epoca classica.

There were elephants in Italy before the arrival of Pyrrhus? It is difficult to imagine that two or three hundred thousand years ago the Roman Campagna was crossed by herds of elephants, however the Rome territory is among the richest in the world for prehistoric fossil evidences connected with the oldest prehistory. The first findings date back to the mid-500 and continue until the modern urbanization which has buried under concrete, a lot of sites where the fossils were discovered
The Roman Campagna constituted, in the past, a particularly favorable environment, both for humans and for other mammals. Among the numerous animals that have gone together with the man presence in these lands, the elephants are a curious reality, almost incredible to imagine today in the highly anthropized quarters of Italian capital.
The leading actors of this book are elephants and their relationships with the environment and humans over time. The discussed topics include environmental, geological and climatic issues and moreover paleontological, anthropological, and evolutive questions.
For the first time are published all the data related to the hundreds of fossil remains of elephants in the territory of Rome. Furthermore the museum-areas, where you can acquire more detailed information are described.
Finally, problems linked to the role of this large mammal in the collective imagination, from its representation in prehistoric art up to his influence, real and symbolic, in ancient history and its iconography in classical times, are focused.
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For many astronomers, the progressive development of life has been seen as a natural occurrence given proper environmental conditions on a planet: even though such beings would not be identical to humans, there would be significant parallels. A striking contrast is seen in writings of nonphysical scientists, who have held more widely differing views. But within this diversity, reasons for differences become more apparent when we see how views about extraterrestrials can be related to the differential emphasis placed on modern evolutionary theory by scientists of various disciplines. One clue to understanding the differences between the biologists, paleontologists, and anthropologists who speculated on extraterrestrials is suggested by noting who wrote on the subject. Given the relatively small number of commentators on the topic, it seems more than coincidental that four of the major contributors to the evolutionary synthesis in the 1930s and 1940s are among them. Upon closer examination it is evident that the exobiological arguments of Theodosius Dobzhansky and George Gaylord Simpson and, less directly, of H. J. Muller and Ernst Mayr are all related to their earlier work in formulating synthetic evolution. By examining the variety of views held by nonphysical scientists, we can see that there were significant disagreements between them about evolution into the 1960s. By the mid-1980s, many believed that “higher” life, particularly intelligent life, probably occurs quite infrequently in the universe; nevertheless, some held out the possibility that convergence of intelligence could occur across worlds. Regardless of the final conclusions these scientists reached about the likely prevalence of extraterrestrial intelligence, the use of evolutionary arguments to support their positions became increasingly common.

The article presents a discussion that seeks to justify the presence of wild birds in the city of Pereira -emphatically birds of prey, migratory birds, or birds under some degree of threatseeking to broaden the discussion of results presented in the previous article “Revision to Ornithological Diversity in Pereira.” Fourteen (14) species of birds of prey (this is to say belonging to the families Cathartidae, Pandionidae, Accipitridae and Falconidae) which owe their presence to the fact that they do not depend on forests and can survive in urban areas; twentysix (26) migratory species which, except for three species
considered rare, all are common or fairly common and most
frequent in open areas; seven (7) species under some degree of
threat (threat mainly due to habitat destruction) considered as
rare and local; and four (4) endemic species of which only one is
considered rare; all others are common and within the city they
find the different types of habitat they require. It is discussed
and concluded that in general the species dealt with belong to
open areas and do not depend on forests, are tolerant to
intervened ecosystems and/or have some niche plasticity with
their habitat needs and are able to find their ecological
requirements in urban areas. Also that the habitat heterogeneity and the varied vegetation structure in urban areas contribute to
the richness of species.

La sofisticación del consumo de productos y servicios en la globalización ha ocasionado que muchas empresas contraten a otras para que les proporcionen servicios calificados de informática, telemarketing, administración y diseño gráfico que incorporarán a su producto final; los trabajadores no son contratados directamente por la empresa beneficiada, sino por otras a quienes se le subroga un contrato mercantil. Estos trabajadores pueden ubicarse en las instalaciones de la empresa contratante, en el domicilio de la empresa contratada o en ambas. Hay servicios que al no ser el objetivo principal de la empresa contratante, se subrogan a un tercero: limpieza, jardinería, transporte y vigilancia. También hay trabajadores que no dependen laboralmente de la empresa que los emplea, aunque sea ésta quien determine sus funciones y obligaciones; al no tener relación contractual directa con este tipo de trabajadores, la empresa beneficiada no les retribuye la actividad desempeñada, lo hace la empresa que los contrató a través de honorarios, comisiones o propinas. Uno de cada cinco trabajadores ocupados en México corresponde a trabajadores subcontratados como los descritos anteriormente, que por lo general son los más desprotegidos por la legislación laboral: casi la mitad de ellos carece de seguridad social y 15 por ciento no tienen contrato laboral escrito (José de Jesús González Rodríguez. (2019). La subcontratación laboral en el marco de la nueva legislación del trabajo. www.diputados.gob.mx/cesop). En este tipo de trabajadores prevalece la inestabilidad laboral, hay ausencia de representación sindical y no se cubren las prestaciones mínimas consignadas en la ley Federal de Trabajo: jornada de 48 horas semanales, aguinaldos, vacaciones, vivienda, reparto de utilidades, antigüedad laboral y acceso al sistema de salud. La subcontratación también obedece a la reducción de costos salariales, a la evasión de cuotas patronales por concepto de seguridad social y a eludir pagos fiscales: el senador Napoleón Gómez Urrutia estima que la subcontratación laboral genera un desfalco anual al erario equivalente al 2 por ciento del Producto Interno Bruto (500 mil millones de pesos) al no cubrir los empleadores sus cuotas de seguridad social y pago de impuestos (La Jornada. 9/12/19, página 24). Uno de los trabajos subcontratados es el de vigilancia, los polis realizan jornadas de 24 horas activos por 24 de descanso (o su variante 12 por 12); cada semana laboran 84 horas y la paga es de 14 pesos por hora; no hay horas extras, vacaciones, reparto de utilidad, seguridad social, capacitación, seguro de vida, aguinaldo; frecuentemente los cambian de adscripción, son penalizados por sus ausencias y su turno se duplica si así lo desea la empresa contratada. No tienen contrato escrito ni representación gremial; la empresa para quien laboran cambia frecuentemente de razón social para eludir sus compromisos laborales y fiscales y la empresa beneficiada por ese servicio niega su solidaridad laboral. Ante estas irregularidades, el grupo parlamentario de Morena en el Senado promovió una iniciativa para tutelar los derechos laborales de los trabajadores subcontratados. La propuesta de regular el trabajo subcontratado descrita fue aprobada por unanimidad en las comisiones del Senado (Trabajo y Previsión Social y Estudios Legislativos), pero por decesión del coordinador de Morena, Ricardo Monreal, se postergó su presentación al pleno. Los puntos centrales de la dicha propuesta son: acotar la subcontratación a especializaciones ajenas o accesorias a la actividad preponderante de la empresa; garantizar los derechos laborales y de seguridad social de los trabajadores y prohibir y sancionar actos simulados. La discusión y aprobación de esas reformas son necesarias para acotar los abusos laborales y el impago de cuotas de seguridad y obligaciones fiscales. es un suplemento mensual auspiciado por La Jornada de Oriente DIRECTORA GENERAL Carmen Lira Saade DIRECTOR

The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere is a reclaimed history of the deep past of Indigenous people in North and South America during the Paleolithic. Paulette F. C. Steeves mines evidence from archaeology sites and Paleolithic environments, landscapes, and mammalian and human migrations to make the case that people have been in the Western Hemisphere not only just prior to Clovis sites (10,200 years ago) but for more than 60,000 years, and likely more than 100,000 years.

Although it represents but one geographic data point, the uppermost Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation (HCF), exposed in the upper Great Plains of the North American craton, remains the most studied source for understanding the final ~1.5 Myr of the Mesozoic Era in the terrestrial realm. Because it lies conformably below the earliest Paleocene Fort Union Formation, and together these two units preserve a rich fauna and flora, much of what is understood about the terrestrial Cretaceouse-Paleogene (K–Pg) boundary comes from this sequence. The HCF has been reconstructed as an expansive, fluvially drained, low coastal plain, built out, to the west, against the Laramide Orogen, and to the east, against the ultimate transgression (Cannonball) of the Western Interior Sea. Its meandering rivers and moist soils supported a multi-tiered angiosperm-dominated flora and rich insect and vertebrate faunas, including dinosaurs, crocodilians, squamates, turtles, and mammals. A dramatic facies change representing the initiation of catastrophic flooding is preserved, within available levels precision, at the K-Pg boundary. High-precision stratigraphy has proven difficult in this lenticular fluvial system. Where present, the boundary can be recognized by the bipartite boundary claystone; otherwise, palynostratigraphy has proven a powerful tool. Numerical dates have been successfully obtained from in tonsteins at the boundary and above, in the Fort Union; however, these have proven elusive below the boundary within the HCF. The KePg boundary in this region is dated at 66.043 Ma (Renne et al., 2013). Magnetostratigraphic studies have been carried out in the HCF; although all but one have lacked numerical dates, these have been used for correlations of widespread, disjunct exposures and for the estimation of sedimentation rates. The palynoflora is largely homogenous through the HCF; at the KePg boundary, it shows an abrupt ~30% extinction. This makes it a powerful tool for identification of the KePg boundary, although because the boundary is identified on absence of Cretaceous taxa rather than presence of earliest Paleocene taxa, several competing methods have been applied to identifying the KePg boundary using pollen. The macroflora, consisting largely of leaves, consists of three successive floras, showing increasing diversity through the HCF. The ultimate of these three floras undergoes an abrupt 57% extinction; taken as a whole, however, the macroflora undergoes a 78% extinction at the KePg boundary. The best data available for dinosaurs - including archaic Aves - show an abrupt extinction. By contrast, salamanders and other lissamphibians, as well as chelonians, cross the boundary virtually without perturbation. Squamates appear to have suffered significant extinctions at the KePg boundary, as did euselachians (elasmobranchs) and insects. Mammals suffered a 75% extinction; however, some of this figure cannot be shown to have occurred in less than the last 500 kyr of the Cretaceous, and thus has been potentially attributable to causes other than a bolide impact. Taken together, the survivorship patterns are concordant with the catastrophic inception of ubiquitous flooding characterizing the KePg boundary. While the key K–Pg boundary question in the HCF was once the rate of the biotic extinction, it has moved to the distinction between single-cause scenarios, with the Chicxulub bolide as agent of extinction, and multi-cause scenarios, uniting habitat partitioning, Deccan flood-basalt volcanism, climate change, competition, and bolide impact. Not every potential environmental perturbation need be a mechanism for the extinction: parsimony and the data continue to be concordant with a bolide impact as the single agent of the terrestrial K–Pg mass extinction.

More than 11,000 references!

I just updated the list of references on Vertebrate Paleontology in South America - 1774-2018 (abstracts not included)

Please, cite as:
De Luna P. 2018. South America Vertebrate Paleontology Reference List (1774-2018) - version 20180122
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18198.24643

for corrections or inclusions, please write to [email protected]

Although in the past fifty years Aguascalientes has been characterized by important paleontological discoveries, is currently observed a marked deterioration in the sites of
fossiliferous outcrops that occur naturally, due to rapid urban growth, the lack of information and lack of given value of this important heritage of our state by the government officials and lay people.
This document is intended to raise awareness of the paleontological richness that exists in our state and in this sense is also a starting point for further research. In its
development, the authors consulted various sources on the subject and conducted paleontological activities both in field and laboratory.

The morphology of Megalenhydris barbaricina is compared to other lutrines. Cyrnolutra castiglionis is transferred to Lutra, it is concluded that this is the most probable ancestor of Megalenhydris. Since L. simplicidens is the probable ancestor of L. castiglionis, the former radiated into several species with different ecologies on Sardinia/Corsica. It is further concluded that Megalenhydris must be classified in the tribe Lutrini. ΠEPIΛHΨH: Η µορφολογία του Megalenhydris barbaricina συγκρίνεται µε άλλα Lutrinae. Προκύπτει ότι τo Cyrnolutra castiglionis είναι ο πιθανότερος πρόγονος του Megalenhydris. Από τη στιγµή που το L. simplicidens είναι ο πιθανός πρόγονος του L. castiglionis, το πρώτο εξελίχθηκε σε διάφορα είδη µε διαφορετικές οικολογίες στη Σαρδηνία/ Κορσική. Συµπεραίνεται περαιτέρω ότι το Megalenhydris πρέπει να ταξινοµηθεί στα Lutrinae. Λέξεις-κλειδιά: Lutrinae, συστηµατική ταξινόµηση, οικολογία, Σαρδηνία / Kορσική. * Aναθεώρηση του γένους M e g a l e n h y d r i s και της σχέσης του µε το γένος L u t r a.

La Revista de la Sociedad de Antropología Física ha cumplido ya 30 años y lo hemos querido celebrar de una manera especial con este número conmemorativo. En él, además de los artículos de investigación que conforman el número anual, encontraréis una segunda parte constituida por la valoración sobre la SEAF de distintos presidentes de la SEAF, una historia sobre nuestra sociedad y, finalmente, distintos artículos de revisión sobre materias de nuestra disciplina.

ittà eterna", la chiamano. Quasi fosse appartenuta in perpetuo, svincolata dalla palingenesi di una creazione, a senatori e popolo, re, imperatori e papi. Eppure l'immaginazione scalpita, nella confortevole torre eburnea della definizione. Attende la liberazione da un cortocircuito conoscitivo. Intuisce che ogni passato implica un trapassato.

Los dientes de los vertebrados, y especialmente de los mamíferos, muestran una gran diversidad de formas como resultado de las adaptaciones ecológicas y alimentarias de las especies en función del hábitat y las condiciones ecológicas. La anatomía dental es de gran utilidad para definir especies y caracterizar poblaciones, y se ha utilizado extensamente para definir nuevos taxones y establecer relaciones filogenéticas. Nuestras investigaciones sobre la evolución morfológica de la dentición de los homininos han puesto de relieve la importancia de los dientes en la caracterización de las adaptaciones ecológicas de nuestros antepasados. El presente trabajo es el primero de una serie de tres trabajos que nos planteamos sobre la importancia de las características anatómicas en la interpretación de la evolución de nuestro linaje. En él se describen los principales eventos evolutivos que dieron origen a los dientes y su diversificación.

Palabras clave
dientes, anatomía, evolución, mamíferos, primates, homininos

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Origin and evolution of teeth: from the primitive chordates to modern humans

Abstract
The teeth of vertebrates, especially mammals, show a great diversity of forms as a result of ecological and dietary adaptations in relation to habitat preferences and ecological conditions. The dental anatomy is useful to define and characterize populations and species, and has been used extensively to define new taxa, and
phylogenetic relationships among groups. Our research on the morphological evolution of the hominin dentition has highlighted the importance of the teeth in the characterization of the diet and the ecological adaptations of our ancestors. This study is the first in a series of three papers in which we consider the importance of
the dental anatomical features in the interpretation of the evolution of our lineage. It describes the major evolutionary events that gave rise to the teeth and their diversification. In subsequent works we will analyze in greater detail the diversification of the teeth of mammals and primates.

Key words
teeth, anatomy, evolution, mammals, primates, hominins

A left lower molar of the European jaguar, Panthera onca gombaszoegensis , collected ex situ at the locality 'De Kuilen' near Langenboom (province of Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands), is described and illustrated. This specimen is compared to Early Pleistocene material from Untermassfeld (Thüringen, eastern Germany) and from Tegelen (province of Limburg, The Netherlands). The three other records of P. onca gombaszoegensis from The Netherlands are briefly reviewed. P. onca gombaszoegensis is a fauna element of the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene in The Netherlands.

Extensive fieldwork and detailed studies during the last three decades have enriched our understanding of the Plio-Pleistocene large mammal record of Greece. While the unearthed material is abundant, it is not evenly distributed throughout the Plio-Pleistocene; therefore, there are time intervals in this period for which the known large mammal fauna is limited and our knowledge is poor. The Greek Plio-Pleistocene large mammal record reveals a paleoenvironmental transition from open woodlands in late Pliocene, to savannah-like landscape during the early Pleistocene, and to open grasslands during the late early Pleistocene. During this environmental shift, several taxa arrived in Greece in their westward expansion, whereas others made their last European appearance. The arrival of Homo in Europe is discussed in relation to the Greek faunal record. The available data cannot clearly distinguish between an African or an Asian origin, but the latter is supported by more evidence.

La fin du Pliocène et le début du Pléistocène représentent pour l’Europe occidentale et centrale une période charnière au cours de laquelle le climat se modifie, passant d’un stade chaud et stable à un stade beaucoup plus instable et froid. Ce changement a impliqué de profondes modifications dans la composition de la faune de grands mammifères européens. Depuis longtemps on a supposé que toute apparition d’une nouvelle espèce se faisait par migration venant d’Asie. Un recensement quasi exhaustif des sites à faunes de grands mammifères ainsi qu’un calage précis de ceux-ci dans l’espace et dans le temps a permis d’identifier les grands courants de migration successifs mais aussi de proposer reconstitution hypothétique relativement précise des différents milieux écologiques.
Mémoire de maîtrise sous la direction d'Armel Coudé. Jury: Jean-Pierre Lautridou. Expertise: Marie-Françoise Bonifay.
The late Pliocene and early Pleistocene represent for Western and Central Europe, a pivotal period during which the climate changes, going from a warm and stable stage to a much more unstable and cold stage. This change has involved major changes in the composition of the fauna of large European mammals. For a long time it was assumed that any appearance of a new species was by migration from Asia. An almost exhaustive inventory of sites with large mammals and precise timing of these in space and in time identified the major successive migration flows but also provided relatively accurate hypothetical reconstruction of the different ecological environments.
Master's thesis under the direction of Armel Coudé. Jury: Jean-Pierre Lautridou. Expertise: Marie-Francoise Bonifay.

Large-scale fluctuations in global climate and resulting changes in ecology had a profound effect on human evolution and dispersal. Though hominin remains are scarce, studies focussing on the more abundant records of fossil land mammal communities can contribute greatly to our knowledge of the palaeoenvironmental circumstances that influenced and directed the global spread of hominins. To produce a comprehensive and accurate account of the evolution of western Palaearctic habitat diversity between 2.6 and 0.4 Ma BP, information generated from large mammal communities from 221 key sites has been included in this study.

Microvita, proposed in 1986 by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, are subtle sub-atomic living entities emanated by a cosmic mind, that move throughout the universe, creating and evolving living bodies and minds, and also causing diseases. Scientific evidence for microvita has not been found, despite P.R. Sarkar’s call in his first microvita discourse to start microvita research “without further delay” so that many problems in society can be solved in a nice way. In this article an experimental test for the existence of microvita is proposed. The hypothesis to be tested is that DNA or RNA-coding microvita released from radioactive atoms will develop into viruses that will produce bacteria or other protozoa in a test tube from available chemical ingredients.  P.R. Sarkar (1921-1990) was a spiritual master and founder of the socio-spiritual movement Ananda Marga (“The Path of Bliss”).—Richard Gauthier, St. George, Utah, USA, April 23, 2022.

In the filling of a sinkhole within the Lower Muschelkalk at the limestone quarry of the cement plant Karsdorf, beside fossil rich Upper Muschelkalk, also Palaeogene fossil material was found. The Muschelkalk part of the fi lling consists of approximately 50 m of Upper Muschelkalk and contains fossil material from the tetractinella bed (Trochitenkalk facies) up to the cycloides bed. The Palaeogene sediments of the collapse mass are not decalcifi ed and include a carpofl ora, rests of molluscs and vertebrates. The carpological samples show a wide stratigraphic range. Some species seem to be of Lower Eocene age or older (Tinospora wikinsonii Chandler) and correspond with appropriate fl oras from England like the London Clay; others are present from Eocene to Miocene. Most of the samples belong to Nyssaceans, Vitaceans, Menispermaceans and submerse swamp and aquatic plants (Potamogeton, Stratiotes, Sparganium, Ceratophyllum). Most of the small and fragile bone fragments belong to amphibians but also a lot of reptile material like turtles (Testudinoidea) and crocodiles were found. Special attention refers to mammal and bird remains. Exemplary the oldest rodent record in Germany (Paramyidae) needs to be mentioned. The faunistic fossils indicate close relations to the stratigraphically and spatially similar Geiseltal. In particular the gastropods Australorbis, Galba and Carychiopsis indicate close relations with the gastropod faunas of Geiseltal. Therefore most of the faunistic fossil content suggests a stratigraphic classifi cation in the Middle Eocene, but especially the carpofl ora indicates the possibility that the subrosion has already started in the Lower Eocene or earlier. With our data it is possible to more exactly determine the period of leaching in the Rötsalinar and thus the development of the sinkhole.

The report proposes a revision of poorly known fossil cervid forms and a new look on Late Neogene cervid phylogeny with implication of known already data from mitochondrial and nuclear genetic analysis. Pliocervus matheroni from Late Miocene of Europe is poorly known with unclear systematic position. Some characters (parallel orientation of long pedicles situated very close each from another; antler shape, dental morphology, developed upper canines) place P. matheroni close to Late Miocene Pavlodaria orlovi from the Hipparion fauna of Kazakhstan. Pliocervus and Pavlodaria, must be phylogenetically very close or even synonymous. Both Pliocervus and Pavlodaria share the same orientation and position on the skull of pedicles as modern Capreolus. The analysis of cranial morphology and dentition of Procapreolus moldavicus revealed a set of primitive capreoline cranial characters, combined with orientation of pedicles as in modern Odocoileus and primitive Muntiacus-like characters (large upper canines, long pedicles, deep and large preorbital fossae). P. moldavicus stands closer to a forerunner of the stock that radiated to New World deer than to modern Capreolus. Apparently, several lineages of Capreolinae evolved in Northern Eurasia before Mio-Pliocene boundary: the archaic Procapreolus lineage that does not have direct descendants in the modern fauna; the little known P. loczii that seems to be closer to the hypothesized forerunner of New World Capreolinae; and the Pliocervus-Pavlodaria lineage that may be close to modern Capreolus and Hydropotes. The dichotomy of Cervinae and Capreolinae, perhaps, is a consequence of the first expansion of Miocene ancestors of Capreolinae into the ecologically less favorable parts of Central and Boreal Asia. This may explain the generally more advanced degree of evolutionary specialization in Capreolinae, the development of additional enamel folds in the molars (the Palaeomeryx fold and the protoconal fold), which are better developed in the Capreolinae, and a more advanced specialization of premolars in the Capreolinae if compared to the Cervinae. The biogeographic expansion of Cervinae is recorded in Europe during Early Pliocene. Apparently, this expansion coincides with the first successful radiation of the Old World deer that gave such fossil forms as Arvernoceros ardei, Praeelaphus perrieri, Metacervocerus pardinensis and possibly modern Axis axis and Rucervus duvaucelii. A. ardei and R. duvaucelii share the same plane of antler construction, so Arvernoceros and Rucervus may be closely related genera, or even synonymous. The second important radiation of Cervinae took place by the end of Villafranchian, when appeared modern rich in forms Cervus, Pzewalskium, and extinct giant Praemegaceros, which together with Eucladoceros, apparently, also belongs to Rusa-Cervus stock. Dama, Megaloceros, and Megaceroides represent another stock of Cervinae that evolved in Western Eurasia and Mediterranean area.