Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The Record of Prodeinotherium in the Iberian Peninsula: New Data from the Vallès-Penedès Basin

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Mammalian Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Deinotheres (Proboscidea, Deinotheriidae) are a clade of non-elephantiform proboscideans that originated in Africa and dispersed into Eurasia by the early Miocene. In Europe, deinotheres are first recorded in Greece during MN3, although they did not become a common faunal element throughout Europe until MN4. Early Miocene (MN3–MN4) deinothere remains from Europe are generally assigned to a different species (Prodeinotherium cuvieri) than those from the early middle Miocene (Prodeinotherium bavaricum; MN5–MN6). In the Vallès-Penedès Basin (NE Iberian Peninsula), Prodeinotherium remains are very scarce and largely remain unpublished. To clarify their taxonomic assignment, we describe the available material and compare it with that from elsewhere in Europe. Based on size and a few diagnostic occlusal details, we tentatively recognize both Prodeinotherium cf. P. cuvieri and Prodeinotherium cf. P. bavaricum in the basin. Although all the studied sites had previously been correlated to MN4, the recognition of P. cf. P. bavaricum at els Casots and les Escletxes is consistent with ongoing litho- and magnetostratigraphic studies suggesting a slightly younger age for these sites. The lack of Prodeinotherium remains in older (MN3) localities from the Vallès-Penedès Basin, where Gomphotherium is already recorded, further supports the view that deinotheres dispersed into Western Europe somewhat later than gomphotheres.

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

Access this article

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

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The fossil material studied in this paper is housed and adequately curated in the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, as is accessible by other researchers. All the data generated in the course of this study is provided in the paper or the supplementary material.

Abbreviations

CHE:

Chevilly

ICP:

Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain

IPS:

Acronym of the ICP collections (for the former ‘Institut de Paleontologia de Sabadell’).

BL:

Buccolingual

BLI:

Breadth/length index

L:

Left

MD:

Mesiodistal

R:

Right

References

  • Agustí J (1981) Roedores miomorfos del Neógeno de Cataluña. PhD dissertation, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 284 pp

  • Agustí J, Cabrera L, Moyà-Solà S (1985) Sinopsis estratigráfica del Neógeno de la fosa del Vallés-Penedés. Paleontol Evol 18:57–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Agustí J, Galobart À (1998) Noves localitats amb mamífers fòssils en el miocè de la Conca del Vallès-Penedès. Trib Arqueol 1996–1997:9–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Alba DM, Gasamans N, Pons-Monjo G, Luján ÀH, Robles JM, Obradó P, Casanovas-Vilar I (2020) Oldest Deinotherium proavum from Europe. J Vertebr Paleontol 40:e1775624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews CW (1911) On a new species of Dinotherium (Dinotherium hobleyi) from British East Africa. Proc Zool Soc Lond 1911:943–945

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antoine P-O, Métais G, Orliac MJ, Crochet J-Y, Flynn, LJ, Marivaux L, Rajpar AR, Roohi G, Welcomme J-L (2013) Mammalian Neogene biostratigraphy of the Sulaiman Province, Pakistan. In: Wang X, Flynn LJ, Fortelius M (eds) Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. Columbia University Press, New York, pp 400–422

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Antunes MT, Ginsburg L (2003) The Deinotherium (Proboscidea Mammalia): an abnormal tusk from Lisbon, the Miocene record in Portugal and the first appearance datum: evidence from Lisbon, Portugal. Ciên Terra (UNL) 15:173–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Antunes MT, Legoinha P, Nascimento A, Pais J (1996) The evolution of the lower Tagus basin (Lisbon and Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal) from lower to early middle Miocene. Géol Fr 4:59–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Aiglstorfer M, Göhlich UB, Böhme M, Gross M (2014) A partial skeleton of Deinotherium (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from the late middle Miocene Gratkorn locality (Austria). Palaeobiodiv Palaeoenv 94:49–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azanza B, Cerdeño E, Ginsburg L, van der Made J, Morales J, Tassy P (1993) Les grands mammifères du Miocène inférieur d'Artesilla, bassin de Calatayud-Teruel (province de Saragosse, Espagne). Bull Mus Natl Hist Nat 15C:105–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergounioux FM, Crouzel F (1957) Les Mastodontes fossiles de l'Espagne. Bol Inf Instit Paleontol Sabadell 8–9:41–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergounioux FM, Crouzel F (1958) Les mastodontes d’Espagne. Estud Geol 14:224–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergounioux FM, Crouzel F (1962a) Les Déinothéridés d'Europe. Ann Paléontol 48:13–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergounioux FM, Crouzel F (1962b) Les Deinothéridés d'Espagne. Bull Soc Geol Fr 4:394–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Böhme M, Aiglstorfer M, Uhl D, Kullmer O (2012) The antiquity of the Rhine River: stratigraphic coverage of the Dinotheriensande (Eppelsheim Formation) of the Mainz Basin (Germany). PLoS One 7:e36817

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte CL (1841) A new systematic arrangement of vertebrated animals. Trans Linnean Soc Lond 18:247–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bulot C, Ginsburg L (1993) Gisements a Mammifères miocènes du Haut‑Armagnac et âge des plus anciens Proboscidiens d’Europe occidentale. C R Acad Sci Paris 316:1011–1016

    Google Scholar 

  • Casanovas-Vilar I, Alba DM, Moyà-Solà S. (2011a) Parada 1. Panorámica general de la cuenca y yacimiento de Els Casots (Subirats): una fauna de vertebrados del Aragoniense inferior. Paleontol Evol Memòria especial 6:81–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Casanovas-Vilar I, DeMiguel D, Galindo J, Robles JM, Garcés M, Cabrera L (2011b) The continental Burdigalian (early Miocene) of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia, Spain). In: Pérez-García A, Gascó F, Gasulla JM, Escaso F (eds) Viajando a Mundos Pretéritos. Ayuntamiento de Morella, Morella, pp 93–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Casanovas-Vilar I, Garcés M, Jovells-Vaqué S, DeMiguel D, García-Paredes I, Alba DM, Cabrera L (2019) Biochronology of the early Miocene mammal record of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia). In: The Palaeontological Association 63rd Annual Meeting. 15th-21st December 2019 University of Valencia, Spain. Programme Abstracts AGM papers, pp 64–65

  • Casanovas-Vilar I, Garcés M, Van Dam J, García-Paredes I, Robles JM, Alba DM (2016a) An updated biostratigraphy for the late Aragonian and the Vallesian of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia). Geol Acta 14:195–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Casanovas-Vilar I, Madern A, Alba DM, Cabrera L, García-Paredes I, Van den Hoek Ostende LW, DeMiguel D, Robles JM, Furió M, Van Dam J, Garcés M, Angelone C, Moyà-Solà S (2016b) The Miocene mammal record of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia). C R Palevol 15:791–812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crusafont M, Truyols J (1954) Catálogo Paleomastológico del Mioceno del Vallés-Penedés y de Calatayud-Teruel. Segundo Cursillo Internacional de Paleontología. Museo de la Ciudad de Sabadell, Sabadell

    Google Scholar 

  • Crusafont M, Villalta JF de, Truyols J (1954) Sobre la caracterización del Burdigaliense continental de la cuenca del Vallés-Penedés. Mem Com Inst Geol Prov 11:63–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Crusafont M, Villalta JF de, Truyols J (1955) El Burdigaliense continental de la cuenca del Vallés-Penedés. Mem Com Inst Geol 12:1–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuvier G (1822) Recherches sur les Ossemens Fossiles, où l’On Rétablit les Caractères de Plusieurs animaux dont les Révolutions du Globe Ont Détruit les Espèces. Tome Second, Ire Partie. G. Dufour et E. D'Ocagne, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Daams R (1976) Miocene rodents (Mammalia) from Cetina de Aragon (prov. Zaragoza) and Buñol (prov. Valencia), Spain. Proc Kon Ned Akad Wetensch B 79:152–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Depéret C (1887) Recherches sur la succession des faunes des vertébrés miocénes de la vallée du Rhône. Arch Mus Hist Nat Lyon 4:45–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Duranthon F, Antoine P-O, Laffont D, Bilotte M (2007) Contemporanéité de Prodeinotherium et Deinotherium (Mammalia, Proboscidea) à Castelnau-Magnoac (Hautes-Pyrénées, France). Rev Paléobiol Genève 26:403–411

    Google Scholar 

  • Éhik J (1930) Prodinotherium hungaricum nov. gen., nov. spec. Geol Hung Ser Palaeontol 6:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasparik M (1993) Deinotheres (Proboscidea, Mammalia) of Hungary. Ann Hist Nat Mus Natl Hung 85:3–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasparik M (2001) Neogene proboscidean remains from Hungary; an overview. Frag Palaeontol Hung 19:61–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginsburg L, Chevrier F (2001) Les Dinothères du bassin de la Loire et l’évolution du genre Deinotherium en France. Symbioses 5:9–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Göhlich UB (1999) Order Proboscidea. In: Rössner GE, Heissig K (eds) The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe. Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, pp 157–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammer Ø, Harper DAT, Ryan PD (2001) PAST: paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontol Electron 4:4

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris JM (1973) Prodeinotherium from Gebel Zelten, Libya. Bull Brit Mus Nat Hist Geol 23:285–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris JM (1978) Deinotherioidea and Barytherioidea. In: Maglio VJ, Cooke HBS (eds) Evolution of African Mammals. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, pp 315–332

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Harzhauser M, Kroh A, Mandic O, Piller WE, Göhlich U, Reuter M, Berning B (2007) Biogeographic responses to geodynamics: a key study all around the Oligo–Miocene Tethyan Seaway. Zool Anz 246:241–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilgen FJ, Lourens LJ, Van Dam JA (2012) The Neogene period. In: Gradstein FM, Ogg JG, Schmitz MD, Ogg GM (eds) The Geologic Time Scale 2012, Volume 2. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 923–978

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Huttunen K (2002a) Systematics and taxonomy of the European Deinotheriidae (Proboscidea, Mammalia). Ann Naturhist Mus Wien 103A:237–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Huttunen K (2002b) Deinotheriidae (Proboscidea, Mammalia) dental remains from the Miocene of lower Austria and Burgenland. Ann Naturhist Mus Wien 103A:251–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Huttunen K (2004) On a Prodeinotherium bavaricum (Proboscidea, Mammalia) skeleton from Franzensbad, Czech Republic. Ann Naturhist Mus Wien 105A:333–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Huttunen K, Göhlich UB (2002) A partial skeleton of Prodeinotherium bavaricum (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from the middle Miocene of Unterzolling (Upper Freshwater Molasse, Germany). Geobios 35:489–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Illiger C (1811) Prodromus Systematis Mammalium et Avium Additis Terminis Zoographicis utriusque Classis. C. Salfeld, Berlin.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • ICZN (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature) (1999) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted-sites/iczn/code/

  • Jovells-Vaqué S, Casanovas-Vilar I (in press) Dispersal and early evolution of the first modern cricetid rodents in Western Europe: new data from the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia). C R Palevol

  • Jovells-Vaqué S, Casanovas-Vilar I, Garcés M, DeMiguel D, García-Paredes I, Alba DM, Cabrera L (2019) Biomagnetostratigraphy of the early Miocene mammal record of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia). In: Program and Abstracts XVII Conference of the EAVP - Brussels, Belgium 2 - 6 July 2019, p 53

  • Jovells-Vaqué S, Ginestí M, Casanovas-Vilar I (2017) Cricetidae (Rodentia, Mammalia) from the early Miocene site of els Casots (Vallès-Penedès Basin, Catalonia). Fossil Imprint 73:141–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kälin D, Kempf O (2009) High-resolution stratigraphy from the continental record of the middle Miocene Northern Alpine Foreland Basin of Switzerland. N Jb Geol Paläontol Abh 254:177–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaup J (1829) Deinotherium giganteum. Isis von Oken 22:401–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaup J-J (1832) Description d'Ossements Fossiles de Mammifères Inconnus jusqu'à Présent, qui se Trouvent au Muséum Grand-Ducal de Darmstadt. Premier Cahier, Contenant le genre Dinotherium (Tapirus giganteus, Cuv.). J.G. Heyer, Darmstadt

  • Konidaris GE, Roussiakis SJ, Athanassiou A, Theodorou GE (2017) The huge-sized deinothere Deinotherium proavum (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from the late Miocene localities Pikermi and Halmyropotamos (Greece). Quat Int 430:5–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koufos GD, Zouros N, Mourouzidou O (2003) Prodeinotherium bavaricum (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from Lesvos island, Greece; the appearance of deinotheres in the Eastern Mediterranean. Geobios 36:205–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lartet É (1859) Sur la dentition des proboscidiens fossiles (Dinotherium, Mastodontes et Élephants) et sur la distribution géographique et stratigraphique de leurs débris en Europe. Bull Soc Geol Fr 16:469–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Lydekker R (1876) Molar teeth and other remains of Mammalia. In: Indian Tertiary and Post-Tertiary Vertebrata. Mem Geol Surv India Ser. 10 (Palaeontologia Indica) 1:19–87

  • Markov GN (2008) Fossil proboscideans (Mammalia) from the vicinities of Varna: a rare indication of middle Miocene vertebrate fauna in Bulgaria. Hist Nat Bulg 19:137–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayet L (1908) Étude des Mammifères Miocènes des Sables de l'Orléanais et des Faluns de la Touraine. Ann Univ Lyon 24:1–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayet L (1909) Étude sommaire des Mammifères fossiles des Faluns de la Touraine. Proprement dite Bossée, Le Louroux, Manthelan, La Chapelle-Blanche, Sainte Maure, Paulmy, Ferrière-Larçon, Savigné-sur-Lathan. Ann Univ Lyon 26:1–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazo AV (1996) Gomphotheres and mammutids from the Iberian Peninsula. In: Shoshani J, Tassy P (eds) The Proboscidea. Evolution and Palaeoecology of Elephants and Their Relatives. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 136–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazo AV, Van der Made J (2012) Iberian mastodonts: geographic and stratigraphic distribution. Quat Int 255:239–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mein P (1999) European Miocene mammal biochronology. In: Rössner GE, Heissig K (eds) The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe. Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, pp 25–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Métais G, Antoine P-O, Baqri SRH, Crochet J-Y, de Franceschi D, Marivaux L, Welcomme J-L (2009) Lithofacies, depositional environments, regional biostratigraphy and age of the Chitarwata Formation in the Bugti Hills, Balochistan, Pakistan. J Asian Earth Sci 34:154–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moyà Solà S, Rius Font L (1993) El jaciment paleontològic dels Casots (Subirats, Alt Penedès). Trib Arqueol 1991:7–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborn HF (1936) Proboscidea. A Monograph of the Discovery, Evolution, Migration and Extinction of the Mastodonts and Elephants of the World. Volume I. Moeritherioidea. Deinotherioidea. Mostodontoidea. The American Museum Press, New York

  • Permanyer A (1990) Sedimentologia i Diagènesi dels Esculls Miocènics de la Conca del Penedès. Institut d’Estudis Catalans, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • PickfordM, Pourabrishami Z (2013) Deciphering Dinotheriensande deinotheriid diversity. Palaeobiodiv Palaeoenv 93:121–150

  • Qiu Z-X, Wang B-Y, Li H, Deng T, Sun Y (2007) First discovery of deinothere in China. Vertebr PalAsiat 45:261–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen DT, Gutierrez M (2009) A mammalian fauna from the late Oligocene of northwestern Kenya. Palaeontographica Abt A 288:1–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rögl F (1999) Circum-Mediterranean Miocene paleogeography. In: Rössner GE, Heissig K (eds) The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe. Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, pp 39–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Sach VJ, Heizmann EPJ (2001) Stratigraphie und Säugetierfaunen der Brackwassermolasse in der Umgebung von Ulm (Südwestdeutschland). Stuttg Beitr Naturk B Geol Paläontol 310:1–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahni MR, Tripathi C (1957) A new classification of the Indian deinotheres and description of D. orlovii sp. nov. Mem Geol Surv India (Palaeontologia Indica) 33(4):1–33

  • Sanders WJ, Gheerbrant E, Harris JM, Saegusa H, Delmer C (2010) Proboscidea. In: Werdelin L, Sanders WJ (eds) Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 161–251

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders WJ, Kappelman J, Rasmussen DT (2004) New large-bodied mammals from the late Oligocene site of Chilga, Ethiopia. Acta Palaeontol Pol 49:365–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen S (2013) Dispersal of African mammals in Eurasia during the Cenozoic: ways and whys. Geobios 46:159–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solé Sabarís L (1936) Presència del Dinotherium giganteum Kaup a Caldes de Montbuí. Butll Inst Cat Hist Nat 36:83–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Stehlin HG, Schaub S (1951) Die Trigonodontie der simplicidentaten Nager. Schweiz Pal Abh 67:1–385

    Google Scholar 

  • Tassy P (1990) The “Proboscidean Datum Event”: how many proboscideans and how many events? In: Lindsay EH, Fahlbusch V, Mein P (eds) European Neogene Mammal Chronology. Plenum Press, New York, pp 237–252

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • The NOW Community (2020) New and Old Worlds Database of Fossil Mammals (NOW). http://www.helsinki.fi/science/now/. (accessed May 12, 2020)

  • Tiwari BN, Verma BC, Bhandari A (2006) Record of Prodeinotherium (Proboscidea: Mammalia) from the Mid-Tertiary Dharmsala group of the Kangra Valley, NW Himalaya, India: biochronologic and palaeobiogeographic implications. J Palaeontol Soc India 51:93–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Meulen AJ, García-Paredes I, Álvarez-Sierra MÁ, van den Hoek Ostende LW, Hordijk K, Oliver A, Peláez-Campomanes P (2012) Updated Aragonian biostratigraphy: small mammal distribution and its implications for the Miocene European chronology. Geol Acta 10:159–179

    Google Scholar 

  • von Meyer H (1831) [no title]. Jb Mineral Geogn Geol Petrefaktenk 2:296–297

    Google Scholar 

  • von Meyer H (1833) Beiträge zur Petrefaktenkunde. III. Das Dinotherium Bavaricum, mit Rücksicht auf die riesenmässigste fossile Thiergattung der Dinotherien überhaupt, und auf die Struktur der Mahlzähne in den Tapiren. Nov Acta Phys-Med Acad Caes Leopold-Carol Nat Curios 16:487–516

    Google Scholar 

  • Vörös I (1989) Prodeinotherium petenyii sp. n. from the lower Miocene at Putnok (North Hungary). Frag Min Palaeontol 14:101–110

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work has been funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (CGL2016-76431-P and CGL2017-82654-P, AEI/FEDER-UE), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (RYC-2013-12470 to I.C.V), the Generalitat de Catalunya (CERCA Program and 2017 SGR 116), and the Operational Programme Research, Development and Education—Project "Postdoc@MUNI" (No. CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/16_027/0008360 to À.H.L). We thank Jordi Galindo, Josep M. Robles, and Albert G. Sellés for technical assistance with the ICP collections, as well as two anonymous reviewers for constructive comments that helped to improve a previous version of this paper.

Funding

The funding of this paper is reported in the Acknowledgments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David M. Alba.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of Interest

We declare no conflict of interest.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (PDF 659 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gasamans, N., Luján, À.H., Pons-Monjo, G. et al. The Record of Prodeinotherium in the Iberian Peninsula: New Data from the Vallès-Penedès Basin. J Mammal Evol 28, 647–660 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-021-09543-y

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-021-09543-y

Keywords

Navigation