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ARTICLE IN PRESS
M.R. Palombo, M.P. Ferretti / Quaternary International 126–128 (2005) 107–136 131

M. primigenius and E. (P.) antiquus is an artifact due to microwear pattern and enamel microstructure (Ferretti,
time averaging. 2003a, b; Palombo, in press; Palombo and Curiel, 2003;
Indeed, assemblages where time-averaging could be Palombo et al., 2004; Capozza, 2001; Filippi et al.,
considered of very limited extension, such as La 2001), have the potential to bring new light to the
Polledrara, Castel di Guido, and Cardamone, contain understanding of the paleoecology and evolution of this
but one species, either E. (P.) antiquus (e.g. La group.
Polledrara and Castel di Guido) or M. primigenius
(e.g. Cardamone). This would support the hypothesis
that E. (P.) antiquus and derived Mammuthus species Acknowledgements
had different ecological preferences.
We are indebt to those many colleagues who
discussed with us the several topics that created the
5. Conclusions framework of this study. We are grateful to Adrian
Lister, for his comments and insights. We thanks all the
The dispersal of elephants to Western Europe people at the numerous museums and institutions we
represents an important faunal event, linked to climatic visited, for granting us access to the fossil material in
decrease in humidity that caused withdrawal of forest their care and for their help. This work was supported
cover and favored diffusion of open landscape at the end by MIUR funds and Universit" a di Firenze and
of the Middle Pliocene. After that, representatives of Universit" a ‘‘La Sapienza’’, Rome ‘‘Fondi di Ateno’’.
this proboscidean family constituted one of the most
characteristic components of Plio-Pleistocene European
faunas, until their extinction during the Last Cold Stage Appendix A. Abbreviations of Museum and Institutions
(OIS 3–2). With the exception of the endemic species
from Sicily and Sardinia, the taxonomic diversity of the AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, New
Italian elephants conforms to that known from the rest York; AQN, Antiquarium, Nettuno (Roma); CET,
of Europe. Present data prove that early Middle Centrale ENEL Tavernelle (Pietrafitta, Perugia); CLA,
Pleistocene (Slivia FU of the Italian Biochronology) Castello L’Aquila; DAP, Dipartimento di Scienze
represents a crucial time in elephant diversity and Archeologiche, Universit" a di Pisa; DSTFE, Dipartimen-
turnover in Europe, with the possible occurrence of to di Scienze della Terra, Universit" a di Ferrara; DSTFI,
three taxa (M. meridionalis, M. trogontherii,and E.(P.) Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universit" adi
antiquus), two of which (M. trogontherii and E.(P.) Firenze; DSTT, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra,
antiquus) are new immigrants species from Asia and Universit" a di Torino; IGF, Museo di Geologia e
Africa, respectively. The Italian elephant fossil record Paleontologia, Universit" a di Firenze; IPUR, Istituto di
clearly shows the influence of climatic, physiographic Paleontologia Umana, Roma; ITCL, Istituto Tecnico
and paleogeographic conditions to the pattern of ‘‘A. Costa’’, Lecce; IQW, Forschungsinstitut und
occurrence and dispersal of this mammal group to Naturmuseum Senckenberg Forschungsstation f.ur
southern Europe. Advances in the study of fossil Quart. arpalaeontologie, Weimar, Germany; MAA, Mu-
elephants have resulted in a better resolution of the seo Archeologico di Arezzo; MCC, Museo Civico Di
biochronological distribution of the various species Capri; MCSI, Museo Civico Scarabelli di Imola
occurring on Italian territory. This knowledge is (Bologna); MCSNM, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale,
paramount to any attempt to reconstruct the evolu- Milano; MCSNV, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale,
tionary pattern of the European elephants, in particular Verona; MDG, Museo Civico ‘‘G. Doria’’, Genova;
considering the complex dynamic that appears to MDSTP, Museo del Dipartimento di Scienze della
characterize the evolution of the mammoth lineage Terra, Universit" a di Pavia; MESP, Museo dell’Elefante,
during the Middle Pleistocene. Nevertheless, many Savignano sul Panaro (Modena); MGPUP, Museo di
points concerning the systematics and chronology of Geologia e Paleontologia dell’Unviersit" a di Padova;
the Italian elephants remain cloudy. As we already MPA, Museo di Preistoria, Firenze; MPB, Museo di
pointed out in the previous paragraphs, the identity of Paleontologia ‘‘G. Capellini’’, Universit" a di Bologna;
the early mammoth from Montopoli and Laiatico and MPGP, Museo di Paleontologia ‘‘G. Gemmellaro’’,
their relationships with other Middle and Late Pliocene Universit" a di Palermo; MPM, Museo di Paleontologia
sample from Europe is not definitively resolved. Also, dell’Accademia Valdarnese del Poggio, Montevarchi
the systematic status of late Middle Pleistocene mam- (Arezzo); MPN, Museo di Paleontologia, Universit" adi
moths, as those from Via Flaminia, is still controversial. Napoli; MPR, Museo di Paleontologia, Universit" a ‘‘La
Current research is specifically addressing these issues. Sapienza’’, Roma; MSNB, Museo di Storia Naturale di
Besides a more traditional systematic approach, rela- Bergamo; MSNC, Museo di Storia Naturale, Certosa di
tively newer methods of analysis, as the study of tooth Calci (Pisa); MSNF, Museo di Storia Naturale di