New insights on the Early Pleistocene equids from Roca-Neyra (France, central Europe): implications for theHipparionLAD and theEquusFAD in Europe

Abstract

AbstractWe undertake a redescription of the equid sample from the Early Pleistocene of Roca-Neyra, France. This locality has been recently calibrated at the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary (2.6 ± 0.2 Ma) and therefore it is of interest for the first appearance of the genusEquusand last appearance of hipparionine horses. The Roca-Neyra equid sample, re-analyzed herein using morphological, morphometrical, and statistical analyses, has revealed the co-occurrence ofPlesiohipparioncf. ?P.rocinantisandEquuscf.E.livenzovensis. The analysis undertaken on several European, African, and Asian “Hipparion” sensu lato species from late Miocene to Early Pleistocene has revealed different remnantHipparionlineages in the Plio-Pleistocene of Europe:Plesiohipparion,Proboscidippaion, and likelyCremohipparion. The discovery of the first European monodactyl horse,Equuscf.E.livenzovensiscorrelates Roca-Neyra with other 2.6 Ma European localities in Italy, Spain, and in the Khapry area (Azov Sea region). The morphological description of theEquuscf.E.livenzovensislower cheek teeth has highlighted intermediate features between the North American Pliocene speciesEquus simplicidensand Early Pleistocene EuropeanEquus stenonis. Our study supports the hypothesis thatE.livenzovensisis a plausible evolutionary predecessor for theEquus stenonisgroup. These observations underscore the importance of Roca-Neyra as an important locality for the last European hipparions and the firstEquusin the Early Pleistocene of Europe.