Page 8 - Palombo_Ferretti _2005

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

(Bergamo; Airaghi, 1914; MSNB), further confirm that 2.1.3. M: trogontherii (Pohlig 1885)
the evolutionary level of the molars of southern M. trogontherii is based on material from S.ussenborn
mammoth samples from around 1.5–1.4 Ma is compar- (Germany; Guenther, 1969), a site dated to the early
able to that of M. meridionalis from Upper Valdarno Middle Pleistocene (ca. 600 kya; Kahlke and Mania,
(Tables 3 and 4). A skull of late M. meridionalis is 1994; IQW). The type material includes hundreds of
known from Oriolo, Faenza (Marabini et al., 1987; isolated molars, several mandibles, isolated tusks and
Ferretti, 1999) a late Early or early Middle Pleistocene few post-cranials. The species differs from M. meridio-
(ca. 1.0–0.8 Ma) locality in Northern Italy (see below). nalis in having M3–m3’s that possess an average of 19
The skull from Oriolo (MSNF) is undeformed, but lacks plates with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 21,
the dorsal part, above the external nasal aperture. The mean enamel thickness of 2.3 mm, and an average
tusk alveoli are very long and narrow, closely matching hypsodonty of 1.8 in M3. No complete skull is known
specimens from Farneta. Molars do not differ from from the type locality. The mandible has a body with a
typical M. meridionalis (Fig. 5a). Other late findings (ca. more rounded cross section with respect to the condition
1.0–0.8 Ma) of M. meridionalis in Italy are represented in M. meridionalis, and a tendency to reduce the
by more fragmentary material, but among these remains symphyseal rostrum. The tusks from S.ussenborn show
there is possibly the last record of the species in Italy. a variable degree of curvature:some are comparable to
The molars from S. Giminiano (IGF) and Soave (Monte the condition in M. meridionalis, while others are
Tenda, Verona; Pasa, 1939a; MCSNV) dated to the intermediate between this species and the more derived
early Middle Pleistocene, were referred to E. (P.) M. primigenius (Ferretti, personal observation). The
antiquus and M. trogontherii, respectively (Berzi, 1972; pattern of the Schreger bands in the tusk dentine is
Masini et al., 1994). Revision of the material (mostly similar to that in M. primigenius (Palombo and Villa, in
represented by juvenile specimens) showed, however, press).
that in both cases the metrics and morphology of the In Italy this species is poorly represented, and, with
molars are more consistent with M. meridionalis few exceptions, only by isolated molars. To M.
(Ferretti, 1999). An interesting mammal fauna was trogontherii we ascribe material from ‘‘Ponte di Tresa’’
retrieved from shallow marine deposits outcropping at (Lombardy; MPB), Valdemino (Savona; DSTFE),
various sites near Imola (Bologna) and tentatively Monte Spaccato (Rome; MPR); Ponte Galeria (Rome;
referred either to the late Early Pleistocene or to the Ambrosetti, 1967; MPR), Fontignano (Rome; MPB),
early Middle Pleistocene (Azzaroli and Berzi, 1970; Pratola Peligna (L’Aquila; Leuci and Scorziello, 1972,
Marabini et al., 1987; Masini et al., 1995). The 1974; MPN), and from an unspecified site in the Rome
composition of the Imola fauna (MCSI) is similar to area (DSTT). On the other hand, the palate with M3
that found at Oriolo, suggesting a similar age for the two from Quarata (Arezzo) attributed to ‘‘E. armeniacus’’ by
localities. The mammoth represented at Imola shows, Falconer (1857) and subsequently to ‘‘E.’’ trogontherii
however, more derived dental characters (Ferretti, by Pohlig (1891), actually belongs to E. (P.) antiquus,as
1999), than that from Oriolo. The sample includes two confirmed by other molar remains from this site housed
complete third molars, upper and lower, belonging to at IGF (Ferretti, 1998).
the same individual (Figs. 5b–d), and few other The Monte Spaccato skull is from a young adult
fragmented teeth, retrieved from Rio Pradella, Imola. (Fig. 6). Its overall size and the proportions of the tusk
The two last molars are characterized by thin enamel indicate a female individual. The dorsal aspect of the
(2.4–2.6 mm) and possess 14 plates (excluding the skull is partly missing. It is thus not possible to know the
talons). The M3 is relatively high crowned with a morphology of the forehead. In lateral view (Fig. 6b),
hypsodonty index of 1.6. The m3 shows on the occlusal the cranium appears relatively long, matching female
surface very narrow sub-rectangular wear figures skulls of M. meridionalis from Upper Valdarno. The
(Fig. 5b). Even though it is not possible to evaluate orbital process of the maxillary and the infraorbital
the metric variability of the Rio Pradella mammoth, process are similarly robust. The long, narrow, down-
the two molars are clearly more derived than corre- ward pointing tusk alveoli and the deep maxilla
sponding elements from Upper Valdarno, Farneta, and represent, instead, derived characters with respect to
Pietrafitta. It seems also unlikely that the Rio Pradella M. meridionalis. The tusks, even though missing their
molars are a variant of coeval late M. meridionalis distal portions, are only slightly curved, representing a
populations as those occurring at San Giminiano, possible primitive trait. We interpret the tooth in use as
Monte Tenda, and Oriolo. They seem to belong to a an M2, because of its width and from the morphology of
more derived taxon, very close, if not identical to the its distal side. However, the alveolar portion of the
southern mammoth samples occurring at Dorst (Nether- maxilla behind the molar in use is completely recon-
lands; Van Essen, 2003) and Voigtstedt (0.8–0.7 Ma; structed and there are no traces of an M3 that would
Germany; Dietrich, 1965; Ferretti, 1999; Van Essen, corroborate this identification. The molar is markedly
2003). worn, with only nine plates plus a distal talon left. The