Equus cf. livenzovensis from Montopoli, Italy (early Pleistocene; MN16b; ca. 2.6 Ma)

We report here the occurrence and metric characteristics of a large species of Equus from Montopoli (Tuscany, Italy) correlated with the middle Villafranchian, 2.6 Ma (early Pleistocene). This species co-occurs with a rare “Hipparion” sp. at Montopoli. We compare the Montopoli Equus cf. livenzovensis with a large suite of extant Equus including zebras, asses and a large suite of fossil Equus using bivariate and log10 ratio analyses of anterior and posterior 1st phalanges III. Our comparisons show that Montopoli anterior and posterior 1st phalanges III are larger than in living zebras and asses and comparable in size and proportions to the early Pleistocene large Chinese species Equus eisenmannae and late Pleistocene Rancho La Brean Equus occidentale. Equus livenzovensis was a larger species than Equus stenonis and Equus stehlini. Equus cf. livenzovensis is not represented as far as we know by skulls and dentitions in the Italian Villafranchian record.