Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Early Pleistocene amphibians and squamates from Copăceni (Dacian Basin, southern Romania)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes an Early Pleistocene amphibian and squamate assemblage from the Dacian Basin, southern Romania. The fossil sample allows for the identification of a moderately diverse assemblage, which includes representatives of 13 genera of the families Salamandridae (Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus sp.), Bombinatoridae (Bombina sp.), Hylidae (Hyla aff. Hyla arborea), Bufonidae (Bufo bufo), Pelobatidae (Pelobates syriacus), Ranidae (Ranidae indet., Pelophylax sp., Rana ?temporaria, Rana sp.), Lacertidae (Lacertidae indet.), Anguidae (Pseudopus sp.), Natricidae (Natrix natrix), and Colubridae (Coronella austriaca, Zamenis longissimus). The taxonomic composition of the Early Pleistocene amphibian and squamate assemblage from Copăceni is similar to the one reported from other Romanian sites of the same age, and also to that of Recent Romanian herpetofaunas. The amphibian and squamate assemblage from Copăceni supports the existence of a permanent freshwater body, of neighbouring forests or shrubberies, and thick soil, in an Early Pleistocene climate that was warmer than the present one.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Co-P:

Copăceni-Park Site

L1:

The lower coquina

IM:

The intermediate mudstone

L2:

The upper coquina

ISER:

“Emil Racoviță” Institute of Speleology, Bucharest

References

  • Andreescu, I., Codrea, V., Enache, C., Lubenescu, V., Munteanu, T., Petculescu, A., et al. (2011). Reassessment of the Pliocene/Pleistocene (Neogene / Quaternary) boundary in the Dacian Basin (Eastern Paratethys), Romania. Oltenia. Studii și comunicări. Științele Naturii, 27(1), 197–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andreescu, A., Codrea, V., Lubenescu, V., Munteanu, T., Petculescu, A., Știucă, E., & Terzea, E. (2013). New developments in the Upper Pliocene–Pleistocene stratigraphic units of the Dacian Basin (Eastern Paratethys), Romania. Quaternary International, 284, 15–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailon, S. (1999). Differenciation ostéologique des anoures (Amphibia, Anura) de France. Fiches d’ostéologie animale pour l’archéologie. Série C: Varia, 1, 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blain, H.-A. (2009). Contribution de la paléoherpétofaune (Amphibia & Squamata) à la connaissance de l’évolution du climat et du paysage du Pliocène supérieur au Pléistocène moyen d’Espagne. Treballs del Museu de Geologia de Barcelona, 16, 39–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blain, H.-A., Delfino, M., Berto, C., & Arzarello, M. (2016). First record of Pelobates syriacus (Anura, Amphibia) in the early Pleistocene of Italy. In J. D. Gardner, & T. Přikryl (Eds.) Contributions in honour of Zbyněk Roček. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments,96(1), 111–124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-015-0220-1

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Böhme, G. (1977). Zur Bestimmung quartärer Anuren Europas an Hand von Skelettelementen. Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Reihe, 36, 283–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolkay, S. J. (1913). Additions to the fossil herpetology of Hungary from the Pannonian and Praeglacial periode. Mitteilungen aus dem Jahrbbuche der Königlichen Ungarischen geologischen Reichsanstalt, 21(7), 217–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Codrea, V. A., & Venczel, M. (2018). Lower tetrapods from the Early Oligocene of Transylvania. In M. Marzola, O. Mateus, & M. Moreno-Azanza (Eds.) Abstract book of the XVI Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Caparica, Portugal, June 26th-July 1st, 2018 (p. 49). Caparica.

  • Codrea, V. A., Venczel, M., Solomon, A., & Fărcaș, C. (2016). Latest Cretaceous microvertebrate diversity of the Transylvanian landmass. In F. Holwerda, A. Madern, D. Voeten, A. van Heteren, H. Meijer, & N. den Ouden (Eds.) XIV Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists, 6-10 July 2016, Haarlem, The Netherlands. Programme and Abstract Book (p. 113). Haarlem.

  • Codrea, V. A., Venczel, M., & Solomon, A. (2017a). A new family of teiioid lizards from the Upper Cretaceous of Romania with notes on the evolutionary history of early teiioids. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 181, 385–399. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx008.

  • Codrea, V. A., Venczel, M., & Ursachi, L. (2017b). Amphibians and squamates from the early Vallesian of Crețești (Vaslui County, E-Romania). Nymphaea. Folia naturae Bihariae, 44, 37–56.

  • Codrea, V., Venczel, M., Ursachi, L., & Rățoi, B. (2017c). A large viper from the early Vallesian (MN9) of Moldova (Eastern Romania) with notes on the palaeobiogeography of late Miocene “Oriental vipers”. Geobios, 50, 401–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geobios.2017.07.001.

  • Cogălniceanu, D., Székely, P., Samoilă, C., Iosif, R., Tudor, M., Plăiașu, R., et al. (2013a). Diversity and distribution of amphibians in Romania. ZooKeys, 296, 35–57. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.296.4872.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cogălniceanu, D., Rozylowicz, L., Székely, P., Samoilă, C., Stănescu, F., Tudor, M., Székely, D., & Iosif, R. (2013b). Diversity and distribution of reptiles in Romania. ZooKeys, 341, 49–76. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.341.5502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cosac, M., Murătoreanu, G., Veres, D., Niță, L., Schmidt, C., Hambach, U., et al. (2018). Multi-proxy archaeological investigations of a Middle Palaeolithic occupation context in Eastern Transylvania, Romania. Quaternary International, 485, 115–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2017.09.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csiki, Z. (2005). Sistematica, tafonomia și paleoecologia microvertebratelor și dinosaurilor saurischieni din Maastrichtianul Bazinului Hațeg. PhD thesis, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.

  • Csiki-Sava, Z., Buffetaut, E., Ősi, A., Pereda-Suberbiola, X., & Brusatte, S. L. (2015). Island life in the Cretaceous – faunal composition, biogeography, evolution, and extinction of land-living vertebrates on the Late Cretaceous European archipelago. ZooKeys, 469, 1–161. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.469.8439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csiki-Sava, Z., Vremir, M., Vasile, Ș., Brusatte, S. L., Dyke, G., Naish, D., Norell, M. A., & Totoianu, R. (2016). The east side story – the Transylvanian latest Cretaceous continental vertebrate record and its implications for understanding Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary events. Cretaceous Research, 57, 662–698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2015.09.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dufresnes, C., Strachinis, I., Tzoras, E., Litvinchuck, S. N., & Denoël, M. (2019). Call a spade a spade: taxonomy and distribution of Pelobates, with description of a new Balkan endemic. ZooKeys, 859, 131–158. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.859.33634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estes, R. (1983). Handbuch Der Paläoherpetologie: Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology. Teil 10A / Part 10A. Sauria terrestria, Amphisbaenia. Stuttgart, New York: Gustav Fischer Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flintașu, O. (2016). Evaluarea taxonomică a resturilor de rinoceri din Pleistocenul inferior de la Copăceni. In C. R. Lorinț (Ed.) Lucrările celui de-al XIV-lea Simpozion Național Studențesc “Geoecologia” (pp. 27–30). Petroșani.

  • Flintașu, O., Vasile, Ș., & Dumitrache, I. L. (2019). Taxonomical analysis of the early Pleistocene rhinocerotid fossil remains from Copăceni (Dacian Basin, southern Romania). In F. Blanco, P. M. Carro Rodríguez, A. C. Domínguez García, S. Gamboa, M. Linares Ruiz, J. R. Mateos-Carralafuente, et al. (Eds.) Book of Abstracts of the 4th IMERP (p. 26). Cuenca.

  • Folie, A., & Codrea, V. (2005). New lissamphibians and squamates from the Maastrichtian of Hațeg Basin, Romania. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 50, 57–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleed-Owen, C. P. (2000). Subfossil records of Rana cf. lessonae, Rana arvalis and Rana cf. dalmatina from Middle Saxon (c. 600-950 AD) deposits in eastern England: evidence for native status. Amphibia-Reptilia, 21, 57–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grigorescu, D., Venczel, M., Csiki, Z., & Limberea, R. (1999). New latest Cretaceous microvertebrate fossil assemblages from the Hațeg Basin (Romania). Geologie en Mijnbouw, 78, 301–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hír, J., & Venczel, M. (2005). New Middle Miocene vertebrate localities from Subpiatră (Bihor District, Romania). Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, 5, 211–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holman, J. A. (1992). Hyla meridionalis from the late Pleistocene (last interglacial age: Ipswichian) of Britain. British Herpetological Society Bulletin, 41, 12–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holman, J. A. (1998). Pleistocene amphibians and reptiles in Britain and Europe. In Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics, 38. New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jipa, C.-C. (2012). Asociații de vertebrate continentale Cretacic terminale din aria de sedimentare Metaliferi: sistematică, paleoecology și paleobiogeografie. PhD thesis, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

  • Jipa, C., Solomon, A., Feigi, Ș. V., & Miclea, A. (2010). Microvertebrate continentale maastrichtiene de la Oarda de Jos (Jud. Alba) – date preliminare. In Lucrările celui de-al X-lea Simpozion Național Studențesc Geoecologia (pp. 41–44). Petroșani.

  • OpenHerpMaps. (2020). https://openherpmaps.ro/index.php?map. Accessed on 09 May 2020.

  • Rage, J. C. (1984). Handbuch Der Paläoherpetologie: Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology. Teil 11 / Part 11. Serpentes. Stuttgart, New York: Gustav Fischer Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratnikov, V. Y. (2001). Osteology of Russian toads and frogs for paleontological researches. Acta zoologica cracoviensia, 44(1), 1–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratnikov, V. Y. (2003). Identification of fire-bellied toads (Bombina, Discoglossidae) in the elements of the skeleton for the paleontological studies. Aktualnyie problemy gerpetologii i toksikologii, 6, 91–101 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratnikov, V. Y., & Litvinchuk, S. N. (2007). Comparative morphology of trunk and sacral vertebrae of tailed amphibians of Russia and adjacent countries. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 14(3), 177–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratnikov, V. Y., & Litvinchuk, S. N. (2009). Atlantal vertebrae of tailed amphibians of Russia and adjacent countries. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 16(1), 57–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roček, Z. (1981). Cranial anatomy of frogs of the family Pelobatidae Stannius, 1856, with outlines of their phylogeny and systematics. Acta Universitatis Carolinae, Biologica, 3, 1–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roček, Z. (1994). A review of the fossil Caudata of Europe. Abhandlungen und Berichte für Naturkunde, 17, 51–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchíz, B. (1998). Handbuch Der Paläoherpetologie: Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology. Teil 4 / Part 4. Salientia. München: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simionescu, I. (1930). Vertebratele Pliocene dela Mălușteni (Covurlui). Publicațiunile Fondului Vasile Adamachi, 9(49), 83–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sos, T., Tóth, A., & Tanțău, I. (2011). New reptile fossil records from Corund (eastern Transylvania, Romania) and their paleoenvironmental significance. Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 6(2), 173–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Speybroeck, J., Beukema, W., Dufresnes, C., Fritz, U., Jablonski, D., Lymberakis, P., Martínez-Solano, I., Razzetti, E., Vamberger, M., Vences, M., Vörös, J., & Crochet, P. A. (2020). Species list of the European herpetofauna – 2020 update by the Taxonomic Committee of the Societas Europea Herpetologica. Amphibia-Reptilia, 41, 1–51. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685381-bja10010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Știucă, E., Petculescu, A., Vasile, Ș., & Tiță, R. (2012). Macro- and micromammal faunas associated with Mammuthus (Archidiskodon) meridionalis in the Lower-Middle Pleistocene from Copăceni (Ilfov County, Romania). In D. Murariu, C. Adam, G. Chișamera, E. Iorgu, L. O. Popa, & O. P. Popa (Eds.) Annual Zoological Congress of “Grigore Antipa” Museum, 21-23 November 2012, Bucharest-Romania, Book of Abstracts (pp. 76–77). Bucharest: Editura Medialux.

  • Stöck, M., Dufresnes, C., Litvinchuck, S. N., Lymberakis, P., Biollay, S., Berroneau, M., et al. (2012). Cryptic diversity among Western Palearctic tree frogs: Postglacial range expansion, range limits, and secondary contacts of three European tree frog lineages (Hyla arborea group). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 65(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2012.05.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Syromyatnikova, E. (2017). Redescription of Pelobates praefuscus Khosatzky, 1985 and new records of Pelobates from the late Miocene-Pleistocene of Eastern Europe. Historical Biology, 31(7), 888–897. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2017.1402015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szunyoghy, J. von (1932). Beitrage zur vergleichenden Formenlehre des Colubridenschädels, nebst einer kraniologischen Synopsis der fossilen Schlangen ungrans mit nomenklatorischen und phyletischen Bemerkungen. Acta Zoologica, 13, 1–56.

  • Szyndlar, Z. (1984). Fossil snakes from Poland. Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 27(1), 3–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szyndlar, Z. (1991a). A review of Neogene and Quaternary snakes of Central and Eastern Europe. Part I: Scolecophidia, Boidae, Colubrinae. Estudios Geológicos, 47, 103–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szyndlar, Z. (1991b). A review of Neogene and Quaternary snakes of Central and Eastern Europe. Part II: Natricinae, Elapidae, Viperidae. Estudios Geológicos, 47, 237–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tschopp, E. (2016). Nomenclature of vertebral laminae in lizards, with comments on ontogenetic and serial variation in Lacertini (Squamata, Lacertidae). PLoS ONE, 11(2), e01494445. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasile, Ș., & Csiki, Z. (2011). New Maastrichtian microvertebrates from the Rusca Montană Basin (Romania). Oltenia. Studii și comunicări. Științele Naturii, 27, 221–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasile, Ș., Csiki-Sava, Z., & Venczel, M. (2013a). A new madtsoiid snake from the Upper Cretaceous of the Hațeg Basin, western Romania. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 33, 1100–1119. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2013.764882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasile, Ș., Știucă, E., & Panaitescu, D. (2013b). First find of elephantid remains from the Pleistocene of Copăceni (Ilfov County, Romania). Oltenia. Studii și comunicări. Științele Naturii, 29(1), 42–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasile, Ș., Știucă, E., & Venczel, M. (2013c). First find of ectothermic vertebrates from the Pleistocene “Copăceni beds” (southern Romania). In D. Ţabără (Ed.) Ninth Romanian Symposium on Paleontology, Iași, 25-26 October 2013, Abstract Book (pp. 90–91). Iași: Editura Universității “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”.

  • Vasile, Ș., Petculescu, A., & Venczel, M. (2015). Taxonomic diversity of the vertebrate assemblages from Copăceni – a new reference site for the Lower Pleistocene of the Dacian Basin, Romania. In J. W. M. Jagt, G. Hebda, S. Mitrus, E. A. Jagt-Yazykova, A. Bodzioch, D. Konietzko-Meier, et al. (Eds.) European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists, XIII Annual Meeting, Opole, Poland, 8-12 July 2015, Abstracts (p. 75). Opole.

  • Vasile, Ș., Venczel, M., & Petculescu, A. (2016). New data on the early Pleistocene vertebrate assemblages from Copăceni (Dacian Basin, southern Romania). In F. Holwerda, A. Madem, D. Voeten, A. van Heteren, H. Meijer, & N. den Ouden (Eds.) XIV Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists, 6-10 July 2016, Haarlem, The Netherlands, Programme and Abstract Book (p. 35). Haarlem.

  • Vasile, Ș., Venczel, M., & Petculescu, A. (2018). Early Pleistocene amphibians from Copăceni (Dacian Basin, southern Romania). In L. O. Popa, C. Adam, G. Chișamera, E. Iorgu, D. Murariu, & O. P. Popa (Eds.) International Zoological Congress of “Grigore Antipa” Museum – Book of abstracts (pp. 154–155). Bucharest: S.C. Interbrand Impex S.R.L.

  • Vasile, Ș., Drăgușin, V., Petculescu, A., Constantin, S., Sava, T. B., & Sava, G. O. (2019a). Preliminary data on the late Pleistocene–Holocene herpetofaunal fossil assemblages from Stoieni Cave (Mehedinți Mountains, Romania). In I. I. Bucur, G. Pleș, E. Săsăran, & C. V. Mircescu (Eds.) Twelfth Romanian Symposium on Palaeontology, Cluj-Napoca, 19-21 September 2019, Dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of Romanian University in Cluj-Napoca, Abstracts and Field Trip Guide (pp. 98–99). Cluj-Napoca: Cluj University Press.

  • Vasile, Ș., Petculescu, A., & Venczel, M. (2019b). The early Pleistocene herpetofaunal assemblage from Tetoiu (Dacian Basin, southern Romania). In Program and Abstracts, XVII Conference of the EAVP - Brussels, Belgium, 2-6 July 2019 (p. 122). Brussels.

  • Vasile, Ș., Kovalchuk, O., Petculescu, A., & Venczel, M. (2020). Early Pleistocene freshwater fishes of Copăceni (Dacian Basin, southern Romania). Palaeontologia Electronica, 23(1), a02, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.26879/1014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasilyan, D., Zazhigin, V. S., & Böhme, M. (2017). Neogene amphibians and reptiles (Caudata, Anura, Gekkota, Lacertilia, and Testudines) from the south of Western Siberia, Russia, and Northeastern Kazahstan. PeerJ, 5, e3025. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M. (1987). Materiale herpetologice din depozitul fosilifer de pe dealul Burzău Rîpa, Jud. Bihor (notă preliminară). Nymphaea. Folia naturae Bihariae, 17, 579–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M. (1989). Date asupra herpetofaunei din depozitul fosilifer Burzău-Rîpa, jud. Bihor. Crisia, 19, 761–772.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M. (1990). Date asupra herpetofaunei fosile de la Subpiatră (județul Bihor). Crisia, 20, 543–552.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M. (1991). New contributions to the fossil herpetofauna of Subpiatră (Bihor County, Romania). Nymphaea. Folia naturae Bihariae, 21, 81–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M. (2000a). Quaternary snakes from Bihor (Romania). Oradea: Publishing House of the Ţării Crișurilor Museum.

  • Venczel, M. (2000b). Amphibians from the Lower Pleistocene Betfia 9 locality (Bihor County, Romania). Studii și comunicări, seria Științele naturii, 1, 28–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M., & Codrea, V. A. (2016). A new teiid lizard from the Late Cretaceous of the Hațeg Basin, Romania, and its phylogenetic and palaeobiogeographical relationships. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 14(3), 219–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2015.1025869.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M., & Codrea, V. A. (2018). A new proteid salamander from the early Oligocene of Romania with notes on the paleobiogeography of Eurasian proteids. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 38, e1508027. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2018.1508027.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M., & Csiki, Z. (2003). New frogs from the latest Cretaceous of Hațeg Basin, Romania. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 48, 609–616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M., & Știucă, E. (2008). Late middle Miocene amphibians and squamate reptiles from Tăuț, Romania. Geodiversitas, 30, 731–763.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M., Hír, J., Huza, R. R., Popa, E., & Golban, D. (2005). A new Middle Miocene vertebrate fauna from Subpiatră (Bihor County, Romania). Nymphaea. Folia naturae Bihariae, 32, 23–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M., Codrea, V., & Fărcaș, C. (2013). A new palaeobatrachid frog from the early Oligocene of Suceag, Romania. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 11, 179–189. https://doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2012.671790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venczel, M., Gardner, J. D., Codrea, V. A., Csiki-Sava, Z., Vasile, Ș., & Solomon, A. A. (2016). New insights into Europe’s most diverse Late Cretaceous anuran assemblage from the Maastrichtian of western Romania. In J. D. Gardner, & T. Přikryl (Eds.) Contributions in honour of Zbyněk Roček. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96(1), 61–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-015-0228-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villa, A., & Delfino, M. (2019). A comparative atlas of the skull osteology of European lizards (Reptilia: Squamata). Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society, 20, 1–100. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz035.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voicu, F.-A., Venczel, M., Petculescu, A., & Vasile, Ș. (2015). Taxonomic diversity of early Pleistocene snakes from the Tetoiu Formation (Dacian Basin, Romania) – preliminary results. In I. I. Bucur, I. Lazăr, & E. Săsăran (Eds.) Tenth Romanian Symposium on Paleontology, Cluj-Napoca, 16-17 October 2015, Abstracts and Field Trip Guide (pp. 120–121). Cluj-Napoca: Cluj University Press.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors dedicate this paper to the memory of Dr. Emanoil Știucă (“Emil Racoviță” Institute of Speleology, Bucharest) and his initiative to search for vertebrate fossils at Copăceni. Ovidiu Flintașu, Radu-Mihai Ilie, Bogdan M.O. Săvescu, Sebastian Radu, and Petru Răileanu (University of Bucharest) are thanked for their help in collecting and transporting sediment samples. The reviewers, Zbyněk Roček (Czech Academy of Sciences) and Elena Syromyatnikova (Russian Academy of Sciences), are thanked for their useful comments and suggestions, that helped improve the content of this paper. The editors (Peter Koenigshof and Sinje Weber) are also thanked for their suggestions and the work done in handling the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Research and Innovation, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2016-0848, within PNCDI III (to Ș.V.). The research leading to these results has also received funding from the EEA grants 2014-2021, under project contract no. 03/2019 (0126/2018) and PCE 197/2016, PCCF 16/2018 (all to A.P.).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for the Geology of Coal Deposits and Environment Protection, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 1 Nicolae Bălcescu Avenue, 010041, Bucharest, Romania

    Ștefan Vasile

  2. Ţării Crișurilor Museum, 1/A Armatei Române Street, 410087, Oradea, Romania

    Márton Venczel

  3. “Emil Racoviță” Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, 13-15 Calea 13 Septembrie, 050711, Bucharest, Romania

    Alexandru Petculescu

  4. Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, 3 Virgil Fulicea Street, 400022, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Alexandru Petculescu

Authors
  1. Ștefan Vasile
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Márton Venczel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alexandru Petculescu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Ștefan Vasile, Márton Venczel, and Alexandru Petculescu. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Ștefan Vasile and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexandru Petculescu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vasile, Ș., Venczel, M. & Petculescu, A. Early Pleistocene amphibians and squamates from Copăceni (Dacian Basin, southern Romania). Palaeobio Palaeoenv 101, 967–983 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-020-00465-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-020-00465-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation