A miocene Aceratheriine rhinocerotid (mammalia, perissodactyla) from early pleistocene marine deposits at Monte delle Piche (Rome, central Italy)

A fragmentary hemi-mandible of a rhinocerotid was collected during the end of the 19th century at Monte delle Piche (Rome). Morphological features, such as a short paralophid in the molar, the presence of a mesio-lingual cingulid in the teeth and a well-developed upturned I/2, indicate that the specimen belongs to Aceratheriini. In addition to other taxa (e.g. Chilotherium, Aceratherium and Hoploaceratherium), the hemi-mandible shows morphological traits suggestive of the genus Acerorhinus. The latter is well-documented in fossiliferous localities of Southeastern Europe, Turkey and China, chronologically related with the Land Mammal Zones MN 912. Unfortunately, the specimen is reworked in Early Pleistocene marine deposits. Hence, it cannot indicate the time at which the genus reached Italy.