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June 2024
47-1
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Print ISSN: 0031-0247
Online ISSN: 2274-0333
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Lissamphibians from Dams (Quercy, SW France): Taxonomic identification and evolution across the Eocene-Oligocene transition
Alfred Lemierre and Maeva J. Orliac
Keywords: Eocene-Oligocene; Grande Coupure; Lissamphibia; Quercy Phosphorites

doi: 10.18563/pv.48.1.e3
 
  Abstract

    The locality of Dams (Quercy, southwestern France) has yielded two fossil assemblages, one from the late Eocene and another from the early Oligocene, making it one of the few localities with infillings across the Eocene-Oligocene transition. At least 24 taxa (13 mammals, 11 snakes) have been identified in this locality. Study of the lissamphibian remains from Dams yields an Eocene and an Oligocene assemblage, with a total of eight taxa. The Eocene assemblage includes two unnamed salamandrine species, one unnamed pelobatid species and one pyxicephalid species (Thaumastosaurus). The Oligocene assemblage includes two unnamed pleurodeline species, one salamandrine species (Salamandra sansaniensis) and an unnamed pelobatid species. Among the eight taxa from Dams, one Eocene salamandrine and one Oligocene pleurodeline are identified for the first time in the Quercy. A review of the lissamphibians from the Quercy area identifies eleven taxa for the Late Eocene (MP19) and eight taxa for Early Oligocene (MP22), with a major turnover at the Eocene-Oligocene transition. This turnover occurs in a time of major climatic changes, with a significant decrease in temperature and precipitation and concurrent increase in seasonality in Europe, likely affecting specialized taxa.
      


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A late Eocene palaeoamasiine embrithopod (Mammalia, Afrotheria) from the Adriatic realm (Island of Rab, Croatia)
Fabrice Lihoreau, Ljerka Marjanac, Tihomir Marjanac, Ozan Erdal and Pierre-Olivier Antoine
Keywords: Balkanatolia; Grande Coupure; Great Adria; Paleobiogeography; Systematics

doi: 10.18563/pv.47.1.e1
 
  Abstract

    A cheek tooth recently unearthed in the Lopar Sandstone unit, of late Eocene age, in the northern part of Rab Island, Croatia, is one of the very few Eocene mammalian remains found in the Adriatic area. Thorough comparison of this tooth with those of Old-World Palaeogene mammalian orders suggests that it is a M3 belonging to an embrithopod afrothere. The specimen is referred to as Palaeoamasia sp. This genus was formerly known only in Eocene deposits of Anatolia but with close relatives in Romania among Palaeoamasiinae. The geographical distribution of this subfamily perfectly matches the recently-named Balkanatolian landmass, which experienced in-situ evolution of endemic mammals prior to the Grande Coupure event that occurred around the Eocene–Oligocene transition. This last event is characterised by massive Asian immigration in Western Europe and the supposed extinction of many endemic Central and Western European mammals, including Palaeoamasiinae.
      


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Published in 47-1 (2024)

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Les serpents des phosphorites du Quercy
Jean-Claude Rage
Keywords: Grande Coupure; Quercy Phosphorites; Serpents
 
  Abstract

    A short review of the genera and species of snakes from the Quercy's phosphorites described by former authors is followed by the study of specimens recently collected. Most of these latter specimens belong to the Aniliidae, Boidae, Colubridae and to the Scolecophidia; the precise systematic position of some of them is not defined yet. The following genera and species are described: Eonilius europae nov. gen. and nov. sp., Platyspondylia lepta nov. gen. and nov. sp., Coluber cadurci nov. sp. and Dunnophis cadurcensis nov.  sp.; a species described by de Rochebrune (Palaeopython filholi) is revised. One of the most important conclusions of this study is that the Colubridae appear as early as the Upper Eocene. The stratigraphic repartition of these snakes shows that the rich Upper Eocene fauna is followed by the very reduced fauna of the Lower Oligocene; then the oligocene «Grande Coupure» corresponds to a very important faunistic renewal. The fauna remains poor and little diversified during the beginning of the Middle Oligocene after which there is a new faunistic explosion. 


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Published in Vol. 06, Fasc. 3-4 (1975)

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Sur le plus ancien Lagomorphe Européen et la "Grande Coupure" Oligocène de Stehlin
Nieves Lopez-Martinez and Louis Thaler
Keywords: Grande Coupure; Lagomorphe; Oligocene
 
  Abstract

    Pour la première fois un spécimen de lagomorphe a été récolté en Quercy. L'intérêt de ce fossile tient surtout à son âge géologique inattendu, qui recule considérablement la date de première apparition en Europe de cet ordre de mammifère, Ceci nous paraît justifier une nouvelle réflexion sur la « grande coupure» oligocène, 


  Article infos

Published in Vol. 06, Fasc. 3-4 (1975)

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