Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 41(1) 1998

Issue:

VOL 41(1) 1998

Keywords:

Arvicolidae, Systematics, Early Pleistocene, Early Biharian, Central Italy

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Arvicolid finds (Rodentia, Mammalia) from the early Galerian of Colle Curti (Umbro-Marchean Apennines, Central Italy)

• Laura ABBAZZI
• Federico MASINI
• Giovanni FICCARELLI
• Danilo TORRE

Abstract:

In the present work the arvicolid fauna from the early Pleistocene deposits of the Colle Curti site is revised. This study allows us to report the occurrence of Pliomys lenki, a new taxon for the early Pleistocene of Italy and to review the systematic position of Mi­crotus previously related to Microtus (Allophaiomys) gr. ruffoi. The teeth of Microtus here attributed to M. (Allophaiomys) sp. are characterised by a mixture of primitive and derived features. As a matter of fact, the low development of the anteroconid complex as compared to the other late M. (Allophaiomys) is associated with a microtine differentia­tion of the enamel. At present, taking into account the scarcity of this sample, it is not pos­sible to give this vole a precise specific systematic position, though the association of the characters mentioned above and the morphology of the anterior cap, may suggest that this form is a very primitive representative of the lineage of Microtus (Pallasiinus) ratticepoi desoeconomus. The findings of Pliomys lenki, a common species in the sediments of the middle Pleistocene, strengthens the distinctiveness of the Colle Curti assemblage relative to the older late Villafranchian-early Biharian local faunas of Italy. The occurrence of Mi­crotus (Allophaiomys) sp. linked to the M. oeconomus group allows us to place the fauna close to the early/late Biharian transition.