Biostratigraphy of the mammalian faunas at the pliocene-pleistocene boundary in middle and western Europe

Abstract

During Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene immigration of new mammal groups and genera (microtines, microtoid cricetines, Archidiskodon, Leptobos, Equus); disappearance of existing groups and genera ( Trilophomys, other microtoid cricetids, Anancus arvernensis, Mammut borsoni, Hipparion); in-place evolution ( Mimomys group, Dicerorhinus megarhinus-etruscus, cervids, Archidiskodon meridionalis) and combination of these phenomena permit the recognition of a sequence of faunistic “niveaus” (levels) between the Pontian (Lower Pliocene) and the Middle Pleistocene in middle and western Europe. An attempt is made to distribute the larger local faunas of middle and western Europe within five or six of these niveaus. The position of the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary within the sequence of these niveaus is discussed. Stratigraphic relations to marine faunas exist in the Mediterranean area. The Middle Pliocene Roussillon-Montpellier fauna is associated with marine molluscs of Astian character. The Montopoli local fauna (Val d'Arno Inferiore, Italy) of Lower Villafranchian age similarly occurs together with Astian molluscs, whereas the Middle and Upper Villafranchian niveaus seem to have the marine Calabrian as equivalents. Some relations of the mammal fauna niveaus to floristic stages (Reuverian, Pretiglian, Tiglian) are indicated, and radiometric data are discussed. An attempt is made, to correlate the sequence of paleomammalogical niveaus in middle and western Europe with those of the European part of the U.S.S.R. Some relations to the marine stages of the Caspian Sea can hereby be demonstrated.