A very rich faunal assemblage referred to the early Late Villafranchian (Olivola/Tasso Faunal Unit) has been found at the Early Pleistocene site of Pantalla (Perugia, central Italy). The assemblage contains a number of carnivores, including several specimens of the Etruscan wolf Canis etruscus Forsyth Major, 1877. Canis etruscus appeared in Europe about 2 Ma. This species is regarded as an important taxon for biochronology: its first occurrence (the so-called “wolf event”) has been used to define one of the Villafranchian faunal turnovers. The Late Villafranchian assemblage from Pantalla provides valuable information about the Early Pleistocene carnivore guild in Italy. Together with the Etruscan wolf (probably a cooperative species hunting in packs) and Vulpes sp., the Pantalla faunal assemblage also records the occurrence of two felids, Lynx issiodorensis (Croizet & Jobert, 1828) and the giant cheetah Acinonyx pardinensis (Croizet & Jobert, 1828). Despite the excellent preservation and richness of fossils discovered, the Pantalla fauna seems to lack some important elements of the Late Villafranchian carnivore paleoguild, possibly reflecting a reduced biomass and/or diversity of preys in respect to other Italian sites.

Canis etruscus (Canidae, Mammalia) and its role in the faunal assemblage from Pantalla (Perugia, central Italy): comparison with the Late Villafranchian large carnivore guild of Italy / Cherin M.; Bertè D.F.; Sardella R.; Rook L.. - In: BOLLETTINO DELLA SOCIETÀ PALEONTOLOGICA ITALIANA. - ISSN 0375-7633. - STAMPA. - 52:(2013), pp. 11-18. [10.4435/BSPI.2013.05]

Canis etruscus (Canidae, Mammalia) and its role in the faunal assemblage from Pantalla (Perugia, central Italy): comparison with the Late Villafranchian large carnivore guild of Italy

ROOK, LORENZO
2013

Abstract

A very rich faunal assemblage referred to the early Late Villafranchian (Olivola/Tasso Faunal Unit) has been found at the Early Pleistocene site of Pantalla (Perugia, central Italy). The assemblage contains a number of carnivores, including several specimens of the Etruscan wolf Canis etruscus Forsyth Major, 1877. Canis etruscus appeared in Europe about 2 Ma. This species is regarded as an important taxon for biochronology: its first occurrence (the so-called “wolf event”) has been used to define one of the Villafranchian faunal turnovers. The Late Villafranchian assemblage from Pantalla provides valuable information about the Early Pleistocene carnivore guild in Italy. Together with the Etruscan wolf (probably a cooperative species hunting in packs) and Vulpes sp., the Pantalla faunal assemblage also records the occurrence of two felids, Lynx issiodorensis (Croizet & Jobert, 1828) and the giant cheetah Acinonyx pardinensis (Croizet & Jobert, 1828). Despite the excellent preservation and richness of fossils discovered, the Pantalla fauna seems to lack some important elements of the Late Villafranchian carnivore paleoguild, possibly reflecting a reduced biomass and/or diversity of preys in respect to other Italian sites.
2013
52
11
18
Cherin M.; Bertè D.F.; Sardella R.; Rook L.
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/810895
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