Four species of Neogene and Quaternary beavers of the genus Castor from Western and Central Europe have been described: Castor neglectus SCHLOSSER, 1902, Castor praefiber DEPÈRET, 1890, Castor plicidens BOSCO, 1900 and Castor fiber LINNAEUS, 1758. Vallesian and Turolian Castor remains are rare and have been assigned to C. neglectus (Melchingen, Germany - MN9; Dorn-Dürkheim, Germany - MN11) (FRANZEN & STORCH, 1975). Remains of this genus are more common in sediments of Early Ruscinian age (Montpellier and Pont-de-Gail, France - MN14 in total) and have been assigned to a distinct species, C. praefiber (GINSBURG, 1975; ENGESSER, 1989; ROOK et al., 1999). C. praefiber occurs at several Late Ruscinian localities (Millas, Roussillon and Perpignan France; Wölfersheim/Wetterau, Germany - MN15 in total). Several Villafranchian (Saint-Vallier, France; Upper Valdarno and Tiberino basin, Central Italy) and Middle Pleistocene (Mosbach 2, Germany) remains have been assigned to C. plicidens (VIRET, 1954; FRIANT, 1964; GENTILI et al., 1996; MAZZINI et al., 2000). C. fiber, the only european living species, occurs in sediments of Middle Villafranchian age (Saint-Vallier, France) (BARISONE, 2003; HUGUENEY, in press). Beaver remains have been collected from the Late Turolian site of Baccinello V3 (Italy, MN13). These have been tentatively identified as either C. praefiber or Castor cf. praefiber, or defined as “very similar to the Montpellier form”, but have yet to be properly studied. Some authors consider Castor praefiber to be synonymous to the living C. fiber (SCHREUDER,1928, 1929; WEERD, 1979), a species that exhibits great variability in both size and dental morphology, whilst several other researchers believe it to be a valid species (ENGESSER, 1989; HUGUENEY et al., 1989; KOTSAKIS, 1989; RADULESCO et al., 1993; HUGUENEY, 1999; ROOK et al., 1999; DAHLMANN, 2001). New morphometric parameters on molar teeth occlusal surface have been defined and Statistical analyses (One-Way ANOVA, Principal Component Analysis and Canonical Discriminant Analysis) have been performed on material ascribed to C. praefiber. These analyses confirmed the validity of this species. The beaver remains from Baccinello V3 represents the first occurrence of C. praefiber in Central and Western Europe and the first occurrence of the genus Castor in Italy. FORSYTH MAJOR (1875) suggested the name C. plicidens for a beaver present in the Upper Valdarno fossil mammal assemblage, but he did not describe the new species. A more comprehensive description of C. plicidens was made by BOSCO (1900). According to BOSCO (1900) and other authors (such as FRIANT, 1960-62, 1964), the most important characters distinguishing C. plicidens from other forms of living and fossil beaver are the pronounced secondary enamel folds on the premolar and molar occlusal surfaces. VIRET (1954) also considered C. plicidens to be a valid species, although this observation was based on a completely different set of characters, such as the development of the rostral part of the skull and the strength of the upper incisors compared to the lower ones. LEHMANN (1957) believes these characters allow subspecific rather than specific differentiation and therefore prefers the name C. fiber plicidens. Nevertheless, many authors do not consider C. plicidens to be valid because they do not regard these characters to be diagnostic. The rich mammalian assemblage found at Pietrafitta (Perugia, Italy) is considered to be Late V
Barisone, G. (2004). The fossil record of the genus Castor (Castoridae, Rodentia) in the Neogene and Quaternary of Central and Western Europe, with particular reference to Italy..
The fossil record of the genus Castor (Castoridae, Rodentia) in the Neogene and Quaternary of Central and Western Europe, with particular reference to Italy.
BARISONE, GIANCARLO
2004-01-01
Abstract
Four species of Neogene and Quaternary beavers of the genus Castor from Western and Central Europe have been described: Castor neglectus SCHLOSSER, 1902, Castor praefiber DEPÈRET, 1890, Castor plicidens BOSCO, 1900 and Castor fiber LINNAEUS, 1758. Vallesian and Turolian Castor remains are rare and have been assigned to C. neglectus (Melchingen, Germany - MN9; Dorn-Dürkheim, Germany - MN11) (FRANZEN & STORCH, 1975). Remains of this genus are more common in sediments of Early Ruscinian age (Montpellier and Pont-de-Gail, France - MN14 in total) and have been assigned to a distinct species, C. praefiber (GINSBURG, 1975; ENGESSER, 1989; ROOK et al., 1999). C. praefiber occurs at several Late Ruscinian localities (Millas, Roussillon and Perpignan France; Wölfersheim/Wetterau, Germany - MN15 in total). Several Villafranchian (Saint-Vallier, France; Upper Valdarno and Tiberino basin, Central Italy) and Middle Pleistocene (Mosbach 2, Germany) remains have been assigned to C. plicidens (VIRET, 1954; FRIANT, 1964; GENTILI et al., 1996; MAZZINI et al., 2000). C. fiber, the only european living species, occurs in sediments of Middle Villafranchian age (Saint-Vallier, France) (BARISONE, 2003; HUGUENEY, in press). Beaver remains have been collected from the Late Turolian site of Baccinello V3 (Italy, MN13). These have been tentatively identified as either C. praefiber or Castor cf. praefiber, or defined as “very similar to the Montpellier form”, but have yet to be properly studied. Some authors consider Castor praefiber to be synonymous to the living C. fiber (SCHREUDER,1928, 1929; WEERD, 1979), a species that exhibits great variability in both size and dental morphology, whilst several other researchers believe it to be a valid species (ENGESSER, 1989; HUGUENEY et al., 1989; KOTSAKIS, 1989; RADULESCO et al., 1993; HUGUENEY, 1999; ROOK et al., 1999; DAHLMANN, 2001). New morphometric parameters on molar teeth occlusal surface have been defined and Statistical analyses (One-Way ANOVA, Principal Component Analysis and Canonical Discriminant Analysis) have been performed on material ascribed to C. praefiber. These analyses confirmed the validity of this species. The beaver remains from Baccinello V3 represents the first occurrence of C. praefiber in Central and Western Europe and the first occurrence of the genus Castor in Italy. FORSYTH MAJOR (1875) suggested the name C. plicidens for a beaver present in the Upper Valdarno fossil mammal assemblage, but he did not describe the new species. A more comprehensive description of C. plicidens was made by BOSCO (1900). According to BOSCO (1900) and other authors (such as FRIANT, 1960-62, 1964), the most important characters distinguishing C. plicidens from other forms of living and fossil beaver are the pronounced secondary enamel folds on the premolar and molar occlusal surfaces. VIRET (1954) also considered C. plicidens to be a valid species, although this observation was based on a completely different set of characters, such as the development of the rostral part of the skull and the strength of the upper incisors compared to the lower ones. LEHMANN (1957) believes these characters allow subspecific rather than specific differentiation and therefore prefers the name C. fiber plicidens. Nevertheless, many authors do not consider C. plicidens to be valid because they do not regard these characters to be diagnostic. The rich mammalian assemblage found at Pietrafitta (Perugia, Italy) is considered to be Late VI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
