A schematic range-chart of the late Pliocene - Pleistocene large mammal genera is presented. The main faunal events recognizable within this time span are discussed. The first faunal event occurs around the Gauss/Matuyama transition with the beginning of the middle Villafranchian characterized by the arrival of Mammuthus (Archidiskodon) and Equus (the so-called "elephant-Equus event"). The following faunal event occurs at the Plio-Pleistocene transition (the so-called "wolf event"). The latter is marked by a strong contraction in the diversity of the ruminants and by a renewal in the carnivore diversity with the arrival of social carnivores. The low diversity in ruminant assemblage persist until the end of the middle Pleistocene when new arrivals again produce a diversity similar to the final Pliocene one.
Torre, D., Abbazzi, L., Bertini, A., Fanfani, F., Ficcarelli, G., Masini, F., et al. (2001). Structural changes in Italian Late Pliocene - Pleistocene large Mammal assemblages. BOLLETTINO DELLA SOCIETÀ PALEONTOLOGICA ITALIANA, 40(2), 303-306.
Structural changes in Italian Late Pliocene - Pleistocene large Mammal assemblages
MASINI, Federico;
2001-01-01
Abstract
A schematic range-chart of the late Pliocene - Pleistocene large mammal genera is presented. The main faunal events recognizable within this time span are discussed. The first faunal event occurs around the Gauss/Matuyama transition with the beginning of the middle Villafranchian characterized by the arrival of Mammuthus (Archidiskodon) and Equus (the so-called "elephant-Equus event"). The following faunal event occurs at the Plio-Pleistocene transition (the so-called "wolf event"). The latter is marked by a strong contraction in the diversity of the ruminants and by a renewal in the carnivore diversity with the arrival of social carnivores. The low diversity in ruminant assemblage persist until the end of the middle Pleistocene when new arrivals again produce a diversity similar to the final Pliocene one.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.