Miocene

Social wasps in amber

by James M. Carpenter

Mitochondrial genomes reveal an explosive radiation of extinct and extant bears near the Miocene-Pliocene boundary.

by Leopoldo Soibelzon

Background
Despite being one of the most studied families within the Carnivora, the
phylogenetic... more Background
Despite being one of the most studied families within the Carnivora, the
phylogenetic relationships among the members of the bear family (Ursidae)
have long remained unclear. Widely divergent topologies have been suggested
based on various data sets and methods.
Results
We present a fully resolved phylogeny for ursids based on ten complete
mitochondrial genome sequences from all eight living and two recently extinct
bear species, the European cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) and the American giant
short-faced bear (Arctodus simus). The mitogenomic data yield a well-resolved
topology for ursids, with the sloth bear at the basal position within the genus
Ursus. The sun bear is the sister taxon to both the American and Asian black
bears, and this clade is the sister clade of cave bear, brown bear and polar bear
confirming a recent study on bear mitochondrial genomes.
Conclusions
Sequences from extinct bears represent the third and fourth Pleistocene
species for which complete mitochondrial genomes have been sequenced.
Moreover, the cave bear specimen demonstrates that mitogenomic studies can
be applied to Pleistocene fossils that have not been preserved in permafrost,
and therefore have a broad application within ancient DNA research. Molecular
dating of the mtDNA divergence times suggests a rapid radiation of bears in
both the Old and New Worlds around 5 million years ago, at the Miocene-
Pliocene boundary. This coincides with major global changes, such as the
3
Messinian crisis and the first opening of the Bering Strait, and suggests a
global influence of such events on species radiations.
Background
The bear family (Ursidae) is one of the most studied families within the order Carnivora.
Members of this family are present on most continents and occupy a wide range of ecological
niches from the arctic ice shelves to tropical rainforests (see Additional File 1, Figure S1a).
Despite numerous morphological and molecular studies on the phylogenetic relationship
among Ursidae members, no consensus exists with regard to either their phylogeny or their
taxonomic nomenclature (Table 1). Most analyses have concentrated on the eight extant bear
species: brown bear, American black bear, Asian black bear, polar bear, sun bear, sloth bear,
spectacled bear and giant panda (for species names see Table 1). Molecular studies based on
mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from modern bears have recently provided convincing
evidence about several of the controversial relationships among the bears, such as the basal
positions of the giant panda and the spectacled bear in the bear tree [1-4] and the position of
the polar bear within the brown bear tree making the later paraphyletic [5, 6]. However,
molecular studies for a long time failed to conclusively resolve the phylogenetic relationships
among the members of the bear subfamily Ursinae [5], which includes all living bear species
except the giant panda and the spectacled bear, from here on referred to as ursine bears. The
phylogenetic uncertainty has resulted in major taxonomic confusion. Based on both
morphological and molecular data up to six different genera (Ursus, Helarctos, Euarctos,
Selenartos, Thalarctos and Melursus; i.e. one for each species) have been suggested for the
extant ursine bears (Table 1).
Recently, a study on mitochondrial genome sequences (mtDNAs) of all extant bears presented
for the first time an almost completely resolved bear phylogeny with support for most of the
4

Early evidence for complex social structure in Proboscidea from a late Miocene trackway site in the United Arab Emirates

by Mark Beech

F. Bibi, B. Kraatz, N. Craig, M. Beech, M. Schuster, and A. Hill. 2012. Biology Letters rsbl.2011.1185v1-rsbl20111185

Many living vertebrates exhibit complex social structures, evidence for the antiquity of which is limited to rare and... more Many living vertebrates exhibit complex social structures, evidence for the antiquity of which is limited to rare and exceptional fossil finds. Living elephants possess a characteristic social structure that is sex-segregated and multitiered, centred around a matriarchal family and solitary or loosely associated groups of adult males. Although the fossil record of Proboscidea is extensive, the origin and evolution of social structure in this clade is virtually unknown. Here, we present imagery and analyses of an extensive late Miocene fossil trackway site from the United Arab Emirates. The site of Mleisa 1 preserves exceptionally long trackways of a herd of at least 13 individuals of varying size transected by that of a single large individual, indicating the presence of both herding and solitary social modes. Trackway stride lengths and resulting body mass estimates indicate that the solitary individual was also the largest and therefore most likely a male. Sexual determination for the herd is equivocal, but the body size profile and number of individuals are commensurate with those of a modern elephant family unit. The Mleisa 1 trackways provide direct evidence for the antiquity of characteristic and complex social structure in Proboscidea.

Contrasting silicic magma series in Miocene-Pliocene ash deposits in the San Miguel de Allende graben, Guanajuato, Mexico

by Bart Kowallis

Adams, A.J., Christiansen, E.H., Kowallis, B.J., Carranza-Castañeda, O., and Miller, W.E., 2006, Contrasting silicic magma series in Miocene-Pliocene ash deposits in the San Miguel de Allende Graben, Guanajuato, Mexico: Journal of Geology, v. 114, p. 247-266.

A large fruit pigeon (Columbidae) from the Early Miocene of New Zealand

by Paul Scofield

"Toumaï", Miocène supérieur du Tchad, le nouveau doyen du rameau humain.

by Herve Bocherens

Brunet, M., Guy, F., Boisserie, J.-R., Djimdounalbaye, A., Lehmann, T., Lihoreau, F., Louchart, A., Schuster, M., Tafforeau, P., Likius, A., Mackaye, H. T., Blondel, C., Bocherens, H., Bonis, L. de, Coppens, Y., Denys, C., Duringer, P., Eisenmann, V., Flisch, A., Geraads, D., Lopez-Martinez, N., Otero, O., Pelaez Campomanes, P., Pilbeam, D., Ponce de Leon, M., Vignaud, P., Viriot, L. & Zollikofer, C. 2004. C.R. Palevol 3(4): 277-285.

New Miocene mammal assemblages from Neogene Manantiales basin, Cordillera Frontal, San Juan, Argentina

by Martin Ciancio

G.M. López, M.G. Vucetich, A.A. Carlini, M. Bond, M.E. Pérez, M.R. Ciancio, D.J. Pérez, M. Arnal and A.I. Olivares.
2011
Published in:: "Cenozoic Geology of the Central Andes of Argentina" (J.A. Salfity y R.A. Marquillas, Eds.), SCS Publisher. Pp. 211-226.

The discovery of abundant fossil mammals from two different levels of the lowest third of the Chinches Formation... more The discovery of abundant fossil mammals from two different levels of the lowest third of the Chinches Formation (Manantiales basin) located in Cordillera Frontal of San Juan, between 32°30’ and 33°S, is reported. These synorogenic Miocene deposits were deposited by the structural evolution of Cordón de La Ramada fold and thrust belt. Two diverse fossil mammal
assemblages have been recognized, one from the lowest bearing horizon, informally named «Chinches bearing level» (CBL), and other, stratrigraphically higher, informally named «Las Hornillas bearing level» (LHBL). Marsupials, Xenarthra (Cingulata and Tardigrada), Notoungulates (four families), Litopterns and six groups of rodents are represented in both mammal assemblages.The presence of Eocardia montana, E. excavata and Nesodon conspurcatus strongly suggests that the bearing levels may be referred to the Santacrucian SALMA (South American Land Mammal Age), late early Miocene in age. The morphology of Stenotatus sp., Hapalops sp., Protypotherium sp., Neoreomys cf N. austrlis, and the mesotheriines is comparable to that of Santacrucian species.
Although both assemblages are referred to the Santacrucian SALMA, differences in composition among them suggest slight
differences in age. This temporal reference matches with studies of fission-track and magnetostratigraphy, and sedimentological
data of this sequence. The latitudinal intermediate location together with the particular taxonomic composition of these assemblages may provide the clue to understand the differences between Miocene faunas from Patagonia and the Altiplano (Chile and Bolivia). As well, these assemblages are a new important source of information for the comprehension of the phyletic and
geographic relationships of several taxa, and the paleoenvironmental changes associated with the uplift of the Andes.
Keywords: Argentina - Andes - Miocene - Santacrucian - Fossil Mammal

Two new species of seahorses (Syngnathidae, Hippocampus) from the Middle Miocene (Sarmatian) Coprolitic Horizon in Tunjice Hills, Slovenia: The oldest fossil record of seahorses

by Tomaž Hitij

World's oldest record of seahorses!

Two new and the only known extinct seahorse species Hippocampus sarmaticus and Hippocampus
slovenicus are... more Two new and the only known extinct seahorse species Hippocampus sarmaticus and Hippocampus
slovenicus are described from the Middle Miocene beds (Lower Sarmatian) in Slovenia, representing the
oldest known fossil record of seahorses. Hippocampus sarmaticus was most similar to the extant seahorse
species Hippocampus trimaculatus, while H. slovenicus can be most easily compared to the extant
pygmy seahorses H. bargibanti, H. denise, and H. colemani. These Sarmatian seahorses lived among seagrasses
and macroalgae in the temperate shallow costal waters of the western part of the Central Paratethys
Sea.

A new dragonfly (Insecta, Odontata, Libellulidae) of the Miocene (Lower-Sarmatian) of the Tunjice Hills, Slovenia

by Tomaž Hitij

A new fossil dragonfly, Sloveniatrum robici n. gen. n.
sp. (family Libellulidae) of the middle Miocenemore A new fossil dragonfly, Sloveniatrum robici n. gen. n.
sp. (family Libellulidae) of the middle Miocene
(Lower Sarmatian, corresponds to the Upper
Serravallian of the Mediterranean scale and covers a
time span of approximately 1.1 Ma between ~11.6
and ~12.7 Myr before present) in the Sarmatian
deposits of the Tunjice Hills, Slovenia is described.

Similarity relationship between mammal faunas and biochronology from latest Miocene to Pleistocene in the Western Mediterranean area.

by José Luis Prado

Alberdi, M.T., Azanza, B., Cerdeño, E. and Prado, J.L. 1997. Similarity relationship between mammal faunas and biochronology from latest Miocene to Pleistocene in the Western Mediterranean area. Eclogae geol. Helv., 90: 115-132.

Kottis, T., Chryssanthi, I., Velitzelos, E., Kvacek, Z., Denk, T., Velitzelos, D. 2002. Field guide to the Neogene of the island of Evvia – Early Miocene Flora of Kymi. 6th European Paleobotany – Palynology Conference, Athens August 29 – September 2. 61 p.

by Thomas Denk

Análisis de las Comunidades de Mamíferos continentales del Plio-Pleistoceno de la Región Pampeana y su comparación con las del  área del Mediterráneo occidental.

by José Luis Prado

Ortiz Jaureguizar, E.; Prado, J.L y Alberdi, M. T. 1995. Análisis de las Comunidades de Mamíferos continentales del Plio-Pleistoceno de la Región Pampeana y su comparación con las del  área del Mediterráneo occidental. En: Alberdi, M.T., Leone, G. y Tonni, E. P. (Eds) “Evolución biológica y climática de la Región Pampeana durante los últimos 5 millones de años. Un ensayo de correlación con el Mediterráneo occidental”. Monografías del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Vol. 17, tot pag: 423, pp:385-406. Madrid, España.

The analysis of the evolutionary mammalian patterns in Pampean and occidental Mediterranean regions point out two... more The analysis of the evolutionary mammalian patterns in Pampean and occidental Mediterranean regions point out two different turnover times. We suppose these major faunistíc turnovers may be linked to climatíc events and consequently we try to compare these biotic events with global climatic changes. We correlate the first turnover to the major climatic deterioration placed about 2.6-2.4 Ma. In the Pampean Region this event marks the beginning of the main decrease of the percentage of autochthonous laxa between Chapadmalalan and Uquian ages. This event is correlated in Europe with the dispersal event from North America, Asia and Africa, called Elephant-Equus event. The second turnover took place between Uquian and Ensenadan Ages in the Pampean Region, and this may be linked to the beginning of the "Glacial Pleistocene", about 1.0-0.8 Ma. In occidental Mediterranean Region this event is marked by a practically total rejuvenation of the fauna. The main difference between both patterns is the high rate of extinction at the end of the Pleislocene in South America.

Moncucco Torinese, a new post-evaporitic Messinian fossiliferous site from Piedmont (NW Italy)

by Simone Colombero

Authors: Angelone, Chiara; Colombero, Simone; Esu, Daniela; Giuntelli, Piero; Marcolini, Federica; Pavia, Marco; Trenkwalder, Stefania; van den Hoek Ostende, Lars W.; Zunino, Marta; Pavia, Giulio

A Late Messinian Palynoflora with a Distinct Taphonomy

by Fridgeir Grimsson

2011
Thomas Denk, Fridgeir Grimsson, Reinhard Zetter, Leifur A Simonarson
Springer
Chapter 9

A Lakeland Area in the Late Miocene

by Fridgeir Grimsson

2011
Thomas Denk, Fridgeir Grimsson, Reinhard Zetter, Leifur A Simonarson
Springer
Chapter 8

The Middle Late Miocene Floras - A Window into the Regional Vegetation Surrounding a Large Caldera

by Fridgeir Grimsson

2011
Thomas Denk, Fridgeir Grimsson, Reinhard Zetter, Leifur A Simonarson
Springer
Chapter 7

The Early Late Miocene Floras–First Evidence of Cool Temperate and Herbaceous Taxa

by Fridgeir Grimsson

2011
Thomas Denk, Fridgeir Grimsson, Reinhard Zetter, Leifur A Simonarson
Springer
Chapter 6

Aragonitschalige Gastropoden (Helicidae) mit Quarzdrusen aus dem Schwäbischen Miozän (Südwest-Deutschland)

by Markus Bertling

The land snail Cepaea subsulcosa (Thomae) is described from the Miocene of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Shells are preserved as... more The land snail Cepaea subsulcosa (Thomae) is described from the Miocene of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Shells are preserved as aragonite and are filled with quartz crystals. The stratigraphic setting and taphonomy are discussed. Eodiagenetic quartz formation partly broke the shells. However, it did neither solve nor
silicify them. Important prerequisites for these phenomena were: cementation at the groundwater table, seasonal rainfall in a subtropical climate, carbonatic and silica-poor pore fluids, as well as embedding with relics of soft parts in a sandy sediment.

A Middle Miocene endemic freshwater mollusc assemblage from an intramontane Alpine lake (Aflenz Basin, Eastern Alps, Austria)

by Thomas A. Neubauer

Mathias Harzhauser, Thomas A. Neubauer, Oleg Mandic, Martin Zuschin, Stjepan Ćorić
Paläontologische Zeitschrift

Middle Miocene freshwater mollusks from Lake Sinj (Dinaride Lake System, SE Croatia; Langhian)

by Thomas A. Neubauer

Thomas A. Neubauer, Oleg Mandic, Mathias Harzhauser
Archiv für Molluskenkunde

This study provides the first assemblage-based taxonomic revision of the mollusk fauna of the Middle Miocene Dinaride... more This study provides the first assemblage-based taxonomic revision of the mollusk fauna of the Middle Miocene Dinaride Lake System (DLS). The assemblage, consisting of more than 13.000 specimens, was sampled from a 100-m-thick Lower Langhian interval of the Lučane section in the Sinj Basin (Croatia). 18 gastropod species and 3 bivalve species are detected from the succession. All are endemic to the Dinaride Lake System. Within that system, the described fauna of Lake Sinj displays strong similarities with the coeval and geographically close fauna of Lake Drniš. Reduced faunistic relations to other lakes of the DLS are discussed to result from slightly different stratigraphic ages and deviating paleoecologic settings. Many melanopsid and prososthenid gastropod taxa in the literature are considered to be mere morphotypes of few polymorphic species resulting in nomenclatorial rectifications.
Melanopsis lucanensis NEUBAUER n. sp. and Belgrandia klietmanni NEUBAUER n. sp. are introduced as new species.