A Mammalian Lost World in Southwest Europe during the Late Pliocene

Alfonso Arribas,José S Carrión,Miguel Garcés,Guiomar Garrido,César Viseras,Elisabet Beamud,Sila Pla,Jesús M Soria,José G Solano,Anna Stepanova

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007127

Abstract

BackgroundOver the last decades, there has been an increasing interest on the chronology, distribution and mammal taxonomy (including hominins) related with the faunal turnovers that took place around the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition [ca. 1.8 mega-annum (Ma)] in Europe. However, these turnovers are not fully understood due to: the precarious nature of the period's fossil record; the “non-coexistence” in this record of many of the species involved; and the enormous geographical area encompassed. This palaeontological information gap can now be in part bridged with data from the Fonelas P-1 site (Granada, Spain), whose faunal composition and late Upper Pliocene date shed light on some of the problems concerning the timing and geography of the dispersals.Methodology/Principal FindingsThis rich fossil site yielded 32 species of mammals, among which autochthonous species of the European Upper Villafranchian coexist with canids (Canis), ovibovines (Praeovibos) and giraffids (Mitilanotherium) from Asia. Typical African species, such as the brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) and the bush pig (Potamochoerus) are also present.Conclusions/SignificanceThis assemblage is taxonomically and palaeobiogeographically unique, and suggests that fewer dispersal events than was previously thought (possibly only one close to 2.0 Ma) are responsible for the changes seen around 1.9–1.7 Ma ago in the fauna of the two continents.

Highlights

Lying within the western extreme of the Palaearctic, the Iberian Peninsula is known for palaeoenvironmental sites with evolutionary implications of paramount importance
Our investigation is restricted to the endorheic continental sediments of Units V and VI (Upper Pliocene-Lower Pleistocene)
The External Transverse System is represented by alluvial fans of small radius and severe slope fed from the hills of the External Zones

Summary

Introduction

Lying within the western extreme of the Palaearctic, the Iberian Peninsula is known for palaeoenvironmental sites with evolutionary implications of paramount importance. We report on the chronology and composition of the late Upper Pliocene Fonelas P-1 fossil assemblage. These turnovers are not fully understood due to: the precarious nature of the period’s fossil record; the ‘‘non-coexistence’’ in this record of many of the species involved; and the enormous geographical area encompassed. This palaeontological information gap can be in part bridged with data from the Fonelas P-1 site (Granada, Spain), whose faunal composition and late Upper Pliocene date shed light on some of the problems concerning the timing and geography of the dispersals

Methods

Results

Conclusion