Dinosaurs “re-write” the geodynamics of the eastern Mediterranean and the paleogeography of the Apulia Platform

Abstract

Evidence of a sizeable population of large dinosaurs on the Apulia carbonate platform calls for a revision of the current paleotectonic and paleogeographic scenario of the eastern Mediterranean area. A review of geophysical and geological data of the Ionian Sea and surrounding areas leads to envisage the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Ionian Sea region as a “cul-de-sac”-type basin enclosed by shallow-water carbonate banks, connecting the Apulia carbonate platform to Peloponnesus, northern Cyrenaica, Cyrene Seamount and Medina Ridge. These banks were repeatedly and periodically exposed to subaerial conditions, and offered vast land areas for migration of dinosaurs. As regards the nature of the Mesozoic Ionian basin, interpretations are quite controversial. The “continental” vs. “oceanic” crust debate will likely be solved only when the Ionian basin crust will be reached by drilling. The conclusion of the present review leads to consider Adria as a true African Promontory and the Apulia Platform as a sort of Florida Peninsula, attached to North Africa (Cyrenaica spur), subdividing the oceanic(?) “Mesozoic Mediterranean” into a western Ionian basin and an eastern Levantine basin.