Abstract
European Neogene mammal ages are based on the evolution of different mammal groups and migrational events. The correlation of these mammal ages with the marine stages, the palinspastic reconstruction of circum-Mediterranean seas and seaways, and knowledge of continental and marine climates have allowed for a better understanding and timing of Neogene mammal faunal evolution. The most significant events influencing the faunal composition in the circum-Mediterranean area are discussed: the Oligocene-early Miocene Eurasian-African separation and the early Miocene Bering land-bridge connection; the Afro-Eurasian faunal exchange around 19 million years (m.y.); the early middle Miocene interruption of this Eurasian-African corridor; the Hipparion event in late Miocene-Tortonian time, and the generation of the Turolian circum-Mediterranean chronofauna in Messinian time. Pliocene to Pléistocène climatic oscillations and tectonic events finally shaped the Mediterranean mammal distribution of today, before the impact of mankind.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Adams, CG., 1982. An outline of Tertiary pa-laeogeography. In: L.R.M. Cocks (Editor), The Evolving Earth. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 221–236.
Aguilar, J.P., Brandy, L.D. and Thaler, L., 1983. Les rongeurs de Salobrena (Sud de l’Espagne) et le problème de la migration messinien. R.C.M.N.S. Interim-Colloquim, Montpellier, Avril 1983, pp. 3–7.
Alberdi, M.T. and Aguirre, E., 1977. Roundtable on mastostratigraphy of the W. Mediterranean Neo-gene. Trabaj. Neogeno-Cuatern. Secc. Paleont. Vertebrados Humana, 7:7–47.
Antunes, M.T., 1979. “Hispanotherium fauna” in Iberian middle Miocene, its importance and paleogeographical meaning. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 1:19–26.
Antunes, M.T. and Pais, J., 1983. Climate during Miocene in Portugal and its evolution. R.C.M.N.S. Interim-Colloquium, Montpellier, Avril 1983, pp. 19–22.
Azzaroli, A., 1974. Late Miocene interchange of terrestral faunas across the Mediterranean. Mem. Soc. Geol. It., 13:261–265.
Azzaroli, A., 1977. Considerazioni sui mammiferi fossili delle Isole Mediterranee. Boll. Zool., 44:201–211.
Azzaroli, A., 1981. Cainozoic mammals and the bio-geography of the island of Sardinia, Western Mediterranean. Paleogeogr., Paleoclimat., Paleoecol., 36:107–111.
Barron, J.A. and Keller, G., 1982. Widespread Miocene deep-sea hiatuses. Coincidence with periods of global cooling. Geology, 10:577–581.
Bellon, H., Coulon, C. and Edel, J.B., 1977. Le déplacement de la Sardaigne. Synthèse des données géochronologiques, magmatiques et paléomagnétiques. Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 19:825–831.
Berggren, W.A., Kent, D.V. and Van Couvering J.A., in press. Neogene Geochronology and Chrono stratigraphy.
Bernor, R.L., 1983. Geochronology and Zoogeographic relationships of Miocene Hominoidea. In: R.L. Ciochon and R.S. Corr Uccini (Editors), New Interpretations of Ape and Human Ancestry. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 21–64.
Bernor, R.L., Andrews, P.J., Solounias, N. and Van Couvering J.A.H., 1979. The evolution of “Pontian” mammal faunas: some Zoogeographic, paleo-ecologic and chronostratigraphic considerations. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 1:81–89.
Bessedik, M. and Suc, J.P., 1983. Les charactères du climat au Néogène en Mediterranee Nord-Occidentale d’après l’analyse pollinique. R.C.M.N.S. Interim-Colloquium, Montpellier, Avril 1983, pp. 33–37.
Biju-Duval, B., Dercourt, J. and Le Pichon., X., 1977. From the Tethys Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea: a plate tectonic model of the evolution of the Western Alpine system. In: B. Biju-Duval and L. Montadert (Editors), Structural History of the Mediterranean Basins. Editions Technip, Paris, pp. 143–164.
Boccaletti, M., Conedera, C., Dainelli, P. and Gocev, P., 1982. The Recent (Miocene-Quaternary) regmatic system of the western Mediterranean region. A new model of ensialic geodynamic evolution, in a context of plastic/rigid deformation. J. Petrol. Geol., 1:31–49.
Brandy, L.D., and Jaeger, J.J., 1980. Les échanges de faunes terrestres entre l’Europe et l’Afrique nord-occidentale au Messinien. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 291D:465–468.
Bruijn, H. de and Van der Meulen, A.J., 1981. The distribution of land mammals in the Mediterranean through the Neogene—is there a fit with the paleo-geographic and paleoclimatologic reconstructions based on data from marine basins? Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 4:323–335.
Brunet, M., 1979. Les Grands Mammifères Chefs de File de l’immigration Oligocene et le Problème de la Limite Eocène-Oligocene en Europe. Editions de la Fondation Singer-Polignac, pp. 186–188.
Buchbinder, B. and Gvirtzman, G., 1976. The breakup of the Tethys Ocean into the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Mesopotamian Basin during the Miocene: a sequence of fault movements and desiccation events [Abstract]. 1st Congr. Pacific Neog. Stratigr., pp. 32–35.
Cati, F., Steininger, F.F., Borsetti, A.M. and Gelati, R. (Editors), 1981. In search of the Paleogene/ Neogene boundary stratotype. Part 1. Potential boundary stratotype sections in Italy and Greece and a comparison with results from the deep-sea. G. Geol., 441–11:210 pp.
Cavelier, C., Chateauneuf, J.J., Pomerol, C., Rabus-sier, D., Renard, M. and Vergnaud-Grazzini, C., 1981. The geological events at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary. Paleogeogr., Paleoclimat., Paleoecol., 36:223–248.
Cita, M.B. (Editor), 1976. II significato geodinamico della crisi di salinità del Miocene terminale nel Mediterraneo. C.N.R. Progr. Geodin. IGCP, 92 pp.
Cita, M.B., 1981. Distribution of evaporites in the Neogene of the Mediterranean, the Paratethys and the Middle East. Background and motivation. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 4:219–231.
Coombs, M.C., 1982. Chalicotheres (Perissodactyla) as large terrestrial mammal. Proc. 3rd North Am. Paleontol. Convent., 1:99–103.
Coryndon, S.C. and Savage, R.J.G., 1973. The origin and affinities of African mammal faunas. Spec. Pap. Paleontol., 12:121–135.
Daams, R. and Van der Meulen, A.J., 1983. Paleoecology interpretation of micromammal faunal successions in the upper Oligocene and Miocene of Spain. R.C.M.N.S. Interim-Colloquium, Montpellier, Avril 1983, pp. 39–42.
Demarcq, G., Ballesio, R., Rage, J.C., Guerin, C., Mein, P. and Meon, H., 1983. Paleoclimatic results in the Neogene of the Rhône Valley. Paleogeogr., Paleoclimat., Paleoecol., 42:247–272.
Drooger, C.W., 1979. Marine connections of the Neogene Mediterranean, deduced from the evolution and distribution of larger foraminifera. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 1:361–369.
El-Heiny, I., 1982. Neogene stratigraphy of Egypt. Newsl. Stratigr., 11:41–54.
Fahlbusch, V., 1976. Report on the international symposium on mammalian stratigraphy of the European Tertiary. Newsl. Stratigr., 5:160–167.
Flerov, C.C., 1971. On the history of Bison. Abh. Hess. L.-Amt. Bdfschg., 60:59–63.
Ginsburg, L., 1979. Les migrations de mammifères Carnassiers (Créodontes + Carnivores) et le problème des relations intercontinentales entre l’Europe et l’Afrique au Miocène inférieur. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 1:461–466.
Gregor, H.J., 1982. Die Jungtertiären Floren Süddeutschlands. Paläokarpologie, Phytostrati-graphie, Paläoökologie, Paläoklimatologie. Enke, Stuttgart, 278 pp.
Hallam, A., 1981. Relative importance of plate movements, eustasy and climate in controlling major biographical changes since the Early Mesozoic. In: G. Nelson and D. E. Rosen (Editors), Viaca-riance Biogeography: A Critique. Columbia Univ. Press, New York, pp. 303–340.
Haq, B.U., 1980. Biogeographic history of Miocene calcareous nannoplankton and paleoceanography of the Atlantic Ocean. Micropaleontology, 26:414–443.
Haq, B.U., Worsley, T.R., Burckle, L.H., Douglas, R.G., Keigwin, Jr., L.D., Opdyke, N.D., Savin, S.M., Sommer, II, M.A., Vincent, E. and Woodruff, I., 1980. Late Miocene marine carbon-iso-topic shift and synchroneity of some phyto-planktonic biostratigraphic events. Geology, 8:427–431.
Hartenberger, J.L., 1983. La Grande Coupure. Pour la Science, pp. 26–38.
Heissig, K., 1979. Die hypothetische Rolle Südosteuropas bei den Säugetierwanderungen im Eozän und Oligozän. N. Jb. Geol. Paläont., Mh., 1979/2:83–96.
Hochuli, P., 1978. Palynologische Untersuchungen im Oligozän und Untermiozän der Zentralen und Westlichen Paratethys. Beitr. Paläont. Österr., 4:1–132.
Hsü, K.J., Montadert, L., Bernoulli, D., Cita, M.B., Erickson, A., Garrison, R.E., Kidd, R.B., Mélières, F., Müller, C. and Wright, R., 1977. History of the Mediterranean salinity crisis. Nature, 267:399–403.
Jung, W. and Mayr, H., 1980. Neuere Befunde zur Biostratigraphic der Oberen Sübwassermolasse Süddeutschlands und ihre palökologische Deutung. Mitt. Bayer. Staatsslg. Paläont. Hist. Geol., 20:159–173.
Kissel, C., Jamet, M. and Laj, C., 1985. Paleomagnetic evidence of Miocene and Pliocene rotational deformations of the Aegean area. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., 13:669–679.
Kojumdgieva, E., 1983. Palaeogeographic environment during the desiccation of the Black Sea. Paleogeogr., Paleoclimat., Paleoecol., 43:195–204.
Kotsakis, T. and Palombo, M.R., 1979. Vertebrati continentali e paleogeografia della Sardegna durante il Neogene. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 2:621–630.
Kurten, B. and Anderson, E., 1980. Pléistocène Mammals of North America. Columbia University Press, New York, 442 pp.
Lopez, N. and Thaler, L., 1975. Sur le plus ancien Lagomorphe européen et la “Grande Coupure” oligocène de Stehlin. Palaeovertebrata, 6:243–251.
Loutit, T.S. and Kennett, J.P., 1981. New Zealand and Australian Cenozoic sedimentary cycles and global sealevel changes. Bull. Am. Assoc. Petr. Geol., 65:1586–1601.
Maglio, V.J. and Cooke, N.G.S. (Editors), 1978. Evolution of African Mammals, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 641 pp.
Mai, D., 1967. Die Florenzonen, der Florenwechsel und die Vorstellung über den Klimaablauf im Jungtertiär der DDR. Abh. Zentr. Geol. Inst., 10:55–81.
McKenna, M.C., 1983. Cenozoic paleogeography of North Atlantic land bridges. In: Bott, Saxov, Talain and Thiede (Editors), Structure and Development of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 351–399.
McGowran, B., 1979. Some Miocene configurations from an Australian standpoint. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 2:767–779.
Mein, P., 1979. Rapport d’activité du groupe de travail vertébrés mise à jour de la biostratigraphic du Néogène basée sur les mammifères. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 3:1367–1372.
Méon, H., Ballesio, R., Guérin, C. and Mein, P., 1980. Approche climatologique du Néogène supérieur (Tortonien à Pléistocène moyen ancien) après les faunes et les flores d’Europe occidentale. Mém. Mus. Hist. Natur., B., 27:182–195.
Montenat, C., 1977. Chronologie et principaux événements de l’histoire paléogéographique du Néogène récent. Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 19:577–583.
Moore, T.C., van Andel, T.H., Sancetta, C. and Pisias, N., 1978. Cenozoic hiatuses in pelagic sediments. Micropaleontology, 24:113–138.
Müller, C., 1983. Changes of relative surface water temperature throughout the Neogene and Quaternary in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. R.C.M.N.S. Interim-Colloquium, Montpellier, Avril 1983, pp. 85–87.
Papp, A. and Steininger, F.F., 1979. Paleogeo-graphic implications of Late Miocene deposits in the Aegean region. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 46:955–960.
Poumot, C. and Suc, J.P., 1983. Flores polliniques et paléoprovinces méditerranéennes, du Messinien au Pléistocène inférieur. R.C.M.N.S. Interim-Colloquium, Montpellier, Avril 1983, pp. 95–97.
Rabeder, G., 1978. Die Säugetiere des Badenien. In: A. Papp, I. Cicha, J. Senes and F.F. Steininger (Editors), Chronostratigraphic und Neostratotypen, Miozan M Badenien. Verl. Slowak. Akad. Wiss. Bratislava, pp. 467–480.
Rabeder, G., 1981. Die Arvicoliden (Rodentia, Mammalia) aus dem Pliozän und dem älteren Pleistozän von Niederösterreich. Beitr. Paläont. Österr., 8:1–373.
Rögl, F. and Steininger, F.F., 1983. Vom Zerfall der Tethys zu Mediterran und Paratethys. Ann. Na-turhist. Mus. Wien., 85/A:135–163.
Rouchy, J.M., 1980. La genèse des évaporites mes-siniennes de Méditerranée: un bilan. Bull. Centre Res. Explor. Prod. Elf-Aquitaine, 4:511–545.
Ryan, W.B.F., 1976. Quantitative evaluation of the depth of the western Mediterranean before, during and after the Late Miocene salinity crisis. Sedimentology, 23:791–813.
Savin, S.M., Douglas, R.G. and Stehli, F.G., 1975. Tertiary marine paleotemperatures. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 86:1499–1510.
Schmidt-Kittler, N., 1981. Zur Stammesgeschichte der marderverwandten Raubtiergruppen (Muste-loidea, Carnivora). Eclogae Geol. Helv., 74:753–801.
Schwan, W., 1980. Geodynamic peaks in Alpinotype orogenies and changes in ocean-floor spreading during late Jurassic-Late Tertiary time. Bull. Am. Assoc. Petr. Geol., 64:359–373.
Stehlin, H.G., 1910. Die Säugetiere des schweizerischen Eocaens 6. Abh. Schweiz. Palaeont. Ges., 36:839–1164.
Steininger, F.F., Senes, J., Kleemann, K. and Roegl, F., 1985. Neogene of the Mediterranean Tethys and the Paratethys: stratigraphic correlation tables and sediment distribution maps. Inst. Paleontol. Vienna, 1:472
Steininger, F.F., Senes, J., Kleemann, K. and Roegl, F., 1985. Neogene of the Mediterranean Tethys and the Paratethys: stratigraphic correlation tables and sediment distribution maps. Inst. Paleontol. Vienna, 2:504.
Stuchlik, L., 1979. Chronostratigraphy of Central Paratethys Neogene deposits in South Poland based on palaeobotanical studies. Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 3:1167–1180.
Suc, J.P., 1982. Palynostratigraphic et paléoclimatologie du Pliocène et du Pléistocème inférieur en Méditerranée nord-occidentale. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 294:1003–1008.
Thenius, E., 1959. Tertiär. 2. Teil: Wirbeltierfaunen. In: F. Lotze (Editor), Handbuch der Strati-graphischen Geologie, 3/2, Enke, Stuttgart, 328 pp.
Thenius, E., 1972. Grundzüge der Verbreitungsgeschichte der Säugetiere. G. Fischer, Jena, 345 pp.
Thenius, E., 1979. Afrikanische Elemente in der miozaenen Saeugetierfauna Europas (African elements in the Miocene mammalian fauna of Europe). Ann. Géol. Pays Hellén., 3:1201–1208.
Thenius, E., 1982. Zur Paläoklimatologie des Pannon (Jungmiozän) in Niederösterreich. N. Jb. Geol. Paläont., Mh. 1982/11:692–704.
Thomas, H., Bernor, R. and Jaeger, J.J., 1982. Origines du peuplement mammalien en Afrique du Nord durant le Miocène Terminal. Géobios, 15:283–297.
Thunell, R.C. and Belyea, P., 1982. Neogene planktonic biogeography of the Atlantic Ocean. Micro-paleontology, 28:381–398.
Tobien, H., 1983. Climate and dispersal of mastodonts (Proboscidea, Mammalia) in the Neogene. R.C.M.N.S. Interim-Colloquium, Montpellier, Avril 1983, pp. 109.
Traverse, A., 1982. Response of world vegetations to Neogene tectonic and climatic events. Alcheringa, 6:197–209.
Vail, P.R., Mitchum, R.M. and Thompson, III, S., 1977. Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level, part 4: global cycles of relative changes of sea level. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem., 26:83–97.
Van Couvering, J.A., Berggren, W.A., Drake, R.E., Aguirre, E. and Curtis, G.H., 1976. The terminal Miocene event. Mar. Micropaleont., 1:263–286.
Viret, J., 1954. Le loess à bancs durcis de Saint-Vallier et sa faune de mammifères Villafranchiens. Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Natur. Lyon, 4:1–200.
Wessels, W., de Bruijn, H., Hussain, S.T. and Leinders, J.J.M., 1982. Fossil rodents from the Chinji Formation, Banda Daud, Shah, Kohat, Pakistan. Proc. Kon. Nederl. Akad. Wetensch., (B), 85:337–364.
West, R.M., 1980. Middle Eocene large mammal assemblage with Tethyan affinities, Gandakas region, Pakistan. J. Paleont., 54:508–533.
Wilson, R.W., 1968. Insectivores, rodents and intercontinental correlation. Proc. 23. Int. Geol. Congr. Prague, 10:19–25.
Wilson, R.W., 1980. The stratigraphic sequence of North American Rodent faunas. Palaeoverte-brata, Mem. Jub. R. Lavocat, pp. 273–283.
Wolfe, J. 1980. A paleobotanical interpretation of Tertiary climates in the Northern hemisphere. Am. Sci., 66:694–703.
Woodburne, M.O., MacFadden B.J. and Skinner, B., 1981. The North American “Hipparion” datum and implications for the Neogene of the Old World. Géobios, 14:493–524.
Zachariasse, J.W., 1983. Paleoenvironmental and paleooceanographic interpretation of Mediterranean Middle Miocene to Pleistocene planktonic associations. Utrecht Micropal. Bull., 30:91–110.
Zagwijn, W.H., 1974. The Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary in western and southern Europe. Boreas, 3:75–97.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1985 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Steininger, F.F., Rabeder, G., Rögl, F. (1985). Land Mammal Distribution in the Mediterranean Neogene: A Consequence of Geokinematic and Climatic Events. In: Stanley, D.J., Wezel, FC. (eds) Geological Evolution of the Mediterranean Basin. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8572-1_26
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8572-1_26
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8574-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-8572-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive