Proboscidea - 31/03/16

Doi : 10.1016/j.geobios.2016.01.009

George E. Konidaris ^a,^b,^⁎ , George D. Koufos ^a
^a Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Geology, Laboratory of Geology and Palaeontology, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
^b Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Palaeoanthropology, Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Rümelinstr. 23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany

^⁎Corresponding author. Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Palaeoanthropology, Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Rümelinstr. 23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany.

Abstract

In this article, we present the proboscidean assemblage from the upper Miocene vertebrate locality Nikiti 2 (Chalkidiki Peninsula, Macedonia, Greece). Based on the dental remains, the material belongs exclusively to the genus Choerolophodon. The morphology of the dp3/DP3 and the dimensions of the deciduous dentition clearly distinguish the Nikiti 2 choerolophodont from the early Vallesian Choerolophodon anatolicus and permit its assignment to C. pentelici. C. pentelici is represented in SE Europe–SW Asia by a primitive morph, known from the late Vallesian–earliest Turolian, and an advanced morph Turolian in age. The morphometric features of the Nikiti 2 specimens and their comparison with the choerolophodont material from upper Miocene localities of the wider region indicate that the Nikiti 2 C. pentelici belongs to the advanced morph of the species, suggestive for a Turolian age for the locality. These results agree with the rest of the fauna, which is correlated to the early Turolian (MN 11).

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Keywords : Proboscidea, Choerolophodon, Turolian, Late Miocene, Greece, Taxonomy, Biostratigraphy