Large mammal biochronology framework in Europe at Jaramillo: The Epivillafranchian as a formal biochron

Abstract

European large mammal assemblages in the 1.2–0.9 Ma timespan included Villafranchian taxa together with newcomers, mostly from Asia, persisting in the Middle Pleistocene. A number of biochronological schemes have been suggested to define these “transitional” faunas. The term Epivillafranchian, originally proposed by Bourdier in 1961 and reconsidered as a biochron by Kahlke in the 1990s, is at present widely introduced in the literature. This contribution, after selecting the most representative European large mammal assemblages within this chronological interval, provides a new definition proposal for the Epivillafranchian as a biochron included within the Praemegaceros verticornis FO/Bison menneri FO, and Crocuta crocuta FO.