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An enduring palaeontological riddle
Publication . Martino, Roberta; Di Patti, Carolina; Ríos, María; Rook, Lorenzo; Di Febbraro, Mirko; Raia, Pasquale; Pandolfi, Luca; DCT - Departamento de Ciências da Terra; GeoBioTec - Geobiociências, Geoengenharias e Geotecnologias; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Hippopotamus pentlandi, although lacking a comprehensive description, is regarded as one of the best known dwarfed hippopotamid species within the Mediterranean region. This study provides a detailed analysis of a hippopotamus mandible from Amoroso Cave (Palermo, Sicily). Morphological and morphometric comparisons with insular and continental species reveal a significant similarity between the Amoroso mandible and some specimens from San Ciro Cave (Palermo, Sicily), as well as with Hippopotamus amphibius. Conversely, material from Cannita Cave (Palermo, Sicily) attributed to H. pentlandi is less robust, more elongated and smaller. 3D geometric morphometric analysis performed on the symphyseal sagittal cross-section further support a closer morphological affinity of the Amoroso mandible to San Ciro Cave specimens and H. amphibius, suggesting an attribution to the latter. Our research reveals the presence of at least two different, potentially coeval, taxa in the Pleistocene of Sicily: the dwarfed Hippopotamus pentlandi primarily known from Cannita Cave, and H. amphibius. While Cannita Cave material has been thoroughly studied over the years, abundant remains from other localities, e.g. San Ciro Cave, require re-evaluation. A thorough analysis of Sicilian hippopotamids is crucial to improve our understanding of their systematics and to provide new insights into the palaeobiogeography, palaeobiology, and palaeoenvironment of Sicily during the Pleistocene.
Is Hippopotamus antiquus (Mammalia, Hippopotamidae) affected by body size variations? The contribution of the Mosbach (Germany, Middle Pleistocene) specimen
Publication . Martino, Roberta; Ríos, María; Rook, Lorenzo; Pandolfi, Luca; DCT - Departamento de Ciências da Terra; GeoBioTec - Geobiociências, Geoengenharias e Geotecnologias; Springer Verlag
Hippopotamus antiquus is a well-documented species within the Hippopotamidae family, with evidence of its presence in almost all Europe during the Pleistocene. Despite its abundance in the fossiliferous record, there is still much debate surrounding the first and last appearance data of this taxon, as well as its evolutionary trend. In this work we present a well-preserved mandible recovered from Mosbach (Germany) referred to the Middle Pleistocene. The latter period is represented by less H. antiquus remains in comparison to the Early Pleistocene, making the description of this specimen helpful for morphometric and morphological considerations. Early Pleistocene H. antiquus specimens from Upper Valdarno, Collecurti and Durfort display larger dimensions in comparison to those from Middle Pleistocene localities, including Maglianella, Ortona, Ponte Molle and the specimen from Mosbach. A decrease in body size in H. antiquus, most likely correlated to climate fluctuations, is therefore discussed providing news insights into the biogeography, morphology and morphometry of late H. antiquus.
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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OE
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2021.08458.BD