Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 43(1-2) 2000

Issue:

VOL 43(1-2) 2000

Keywords:

Micromammals, Systematics, Biharian, northeastern Italy

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The Biharian fauna from Monte La Mesa (Verona, northeastern Italy)

• Marco MARCHETTI
• Katia PAROLIN
• Benedetto SALA

Abstract:

An Early Biharian fauna from Monte La Mesa, near Rivoli Veronese (Verona, northeastern Italy), is reported here. The rich micro-mammal association comprises Erinaceus sp., Crocidura sp., Beremendia fissidens, Petenyia hungarica, Asoriculus gibberodon, Sorex bor, S. minutus, S. praealpinus, S. (Drepanosorex) praearaneus, Soricidae indet. I-II, Talpa minor, Hypolagus beremendensis, Sciurus warthae, Sciuridae indet., Allocricetus bursae, A. ehiki, Pliomys episcopalis, Dinaromys dalmatinus, Mimomys tornensis, M. pusillus, M. cf. ostramosensis, Clethrionomys sp., Microtus (Allophaiomys) gr. pliocaenicus, Apodemus atavus, Glis sackdillingensis, Muscardinus cf. dacicus, and, among the reptiles, Ophisaurus sp. Some taxa are reported in Italy for the first time, including more than 500 remains of Apodemus atavus, making it the richest collection of this species in Europe. With regard to the fossiliferous contents, the fauna from Monte La Mesa is considered similar to those from Żabia Cave (Poland), Osztramos 8 (Hungary), and Betfia 10 (Rumania), while in Italy it is regarded as being more ancient than those from Pietrafitta and Pirro Nord.