Page 17 - Palombo_Ferretti _2005

ARTICLE IN PRESS
M.R. Palombo, M.P. Ferretti / Quaternary International 126–128 (2005) 107–136 123

among the various Maltese deposits, as well as the
impossibility of making reliable correlation between
Sicilian and Maltese faunal complexes, do not allow, in
our opinion, definite proof of the validity of this
attribution.
E.(P.) ‘‘mnaidriensis’’ occurs in Sicily in quite diverse
faunal assemblages that were impoverished but balanced
from a trophic point of view. The richest assemblage
known comes from the early Late Pleistocene deposits of
the Puntali cave (Carini, Palermo; MPGP, OPGP,
MGPUP; DSTFE).
Cranial (Figs. 13a and b) and dental characters clearly
demonstrate the close relationship of E. (P.) ‘‘mnai-
driensis’’ with E. (P.) antiquus, E.(P.) ‘‘mnaidriensis’’
differs from the mainland species in being 30–40%
smaller in linear measurements, and in possessing 2–3
fewer plates in M3–m3.
Remains of an elephant larger than E.(P.) ‘‘mnai-
driensis’’ were retrieved from Palermo (Via Libert" a;
MPGP, MGPUP), Grotta di Z" a Minica (Capaci,
Palermo, MGPUP), Ragusa (Cava di Asfalto, MPB),
and Contrada Fusco (Siracusa; Chilardi, 1996). The size
of these specimens is close (Ragusa, Contrada Fusco) or
slightly smaller (Palermo) than that of E. (P.) antiquus
from the Italian mainland, while the morphology of the
molars, mandible and postcrania (no skull remains are
known from any of these localities) perfectly matches
that of the straight tusked elephant. Aguirre (1968–
1969) considered the slightly smaller size of the elephant
from Palermo with respect to that of E. (P.) antiquus
from the mainland, as evidence of genetic isolation
between the Sicilian and mainland E. (P.) antiquus
populations. He thus separated the Palermo sample at
the subspecific level with the name E. (P.) antiquus
leonardii.
A number of specimens of intermediate size between
E.(P.) ‘‘mnaidriensis’’ (Puntali) and E. falconeri
(Spinagallo) were found associated with the latter
species at Spinagallo (Ambrosetti, 1968; Palombo,
unpublished data; MPR), and at Luparello, in levels
underlying those bearing Elephas falconeri (Vaufrey,
1929; Imbesi, 1956)(Fig. 4). Present evidence suggests
these larger specimens represent a new taxon rather than
E. falconeri individuals of very large size. Remains of a
yet unidentified small/medium-sized elephant have been
recorded from latest Pleistocene deposits at Favignana,
a minor island, at that time possibly connected to Sicily
Fig. 12. E. (P.) antiquus, from various Italian localities. (A), DSTF-IS (Capasso Barbato et al., 1989). The above discussion
4, Isernia (Isernia FU, middle Middle Pleistocene), right M3, occlusal suggests that elephant diversity in Sicily may be greater
view; (B–C) Castel di Guido (Torre in Pietra FU, late Middle than presently believed, and demands a thorough
Pleistocene). (B) DSTF 5427, right M3, occlusal view; (C) DAP 11251,
right m3, occlusal view; (D), PCS 330, La Polledrara di Cecanibbio revision of all the available material from the island.
(Torre in Pietra FU, late Middle Pleistocene), right m3, occlusal view. Current knowledge of the Sicilian mammal succession
(Bonfiglio and Burgio, 1991; Bonfiglio et al., 1997)
the Sicilian and Maltese samples. Actually, the frag- indicates that endemic elephants are characteristic of
mentary state of the Maltese material coupled with lack three time-successive faunal complexes (FCs):(1) E.
of a precise understanding of stratigraphic relationships falconeri belongs to the oldest FC (E. falconeri FC; early