Publication details
Herpetological assemblages from the Pliocene to middle Pleistocene in Central Europe: palaeoecological significance
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Geodiversitas |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Ecology |
| Keywords | Amphibia;Reptilia;palaeoecology;climate;Pliocene;Pleistocene;Central Europe |
| Description | The extinction event at the Early/Late Pliocene boundary (MN 15/MN 16) distinctively affected especially the southern part of Central Europe (the last occurrences of Albanerpeton pannonicus, Mertensiella mera, and Latonia gigantea). Several other taxa died out during MN 16 zone. This Pliocene extinction is a result of deterioration of climatic conditions with the process of aridization playing, most probably, the key role. Because numerous taxa became extinct long before the beginning of the Pleistocene during the MN 15 and MN 16 zones, the Pliocene/Pleistocene transition (ca 1.8 Ma) is not reflected in the evolution of Central European herpetological assemblages. Herpetological assemblages fundamentally changed during the terminal part of the Early Biharian (Early Pleistocene) when several Pliocene and Early Biharian representatives became extinct. In the Late Biharian herpetological assemblages no extant mediterranean taxa have been reported from Central European localities situated north of Austria. |
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