Page 12 - Palombo_Ferretti _2005

ARTICLE IN PRESS
118 M.R. Palombo, M.P. Ferretti / Quaternary International 126–128 (2005) 107–136

between the ranges of molars anterior to the M3 (dp2– present in the Tariquinia skull possess 23 plates
M2; Ferretti, 1998); (4) M. trogontherii and M. (Ambrosetti, 1964), which is outside the range for M.
primigenius might co-occur at the same site (Lister and trogontherii and within that of M. primigenius. In our
Sher, 2001; Lister et al., 2004); and (5) existence of opinion, this specimen should be ascribed to M.
interbreeding M. trogontherii–M. primigenius popula-
tions has been postulated (Lister and Sher, 2001; Lister
et al., 2004).
The skulls from Quinzano and Via Flaminia (Fig. 8)
are characterized by a robust morphology with respect
to Late Pleistocene M. primigenius, a possibly primitive
character. Premaxillaries and jugal arches are particu-
larly robust. The relative antero-posterior length of the
skull from Via Flamina, 7.2 km, is intermediate between
that of Late Pleistocene woolly mammoth and that
observed in the heavily reconstructed M. trogontherii
skull from Gelsenkirchen (Siegfried, 1956). Tusks are
not strongly curved, falling morphologically within the
range observed for early Middle Pleistocence M.
trogontherii. The maximum number of plates in M3–
m3 (19) is just below the minimum for M. primigenius
and corresponds to the mean value found in M.
trogontherii. Molars at an intermediate wear stage
possess very narrow wear figures. Primitive M. tro-
gontherii M3 morphotypes with just 16–17 plates and
thick enamel (ca. 3 mm) are unknown among this small
late Middle Pleistocene sample (Table 5). The skull from
Tarquinia differs from the specimens so far described in
being more antero-posteriorly compressed, high domed,
and slender, representing thus a more derived condition Fig. 8. Mammuthus from via Flaminia 7.2 km (late Middle Pleisto-
comparable to that of M. primigenius (Fig. 9). The M3s cene), MPR, skull, left lateral view. Scale bar is 20 cm.

Fig. 9. M. primigenius from Tarquinia (late Middle Pleistocene), MPR, skull. (A) right lateral view; (B) anterior view (from Ambrosetti, 1964). Scale
bar is 20 cm.