1,722,180 research outputs found
Vertebrate palaeontology in Sardinia: a short sketch
No full textIn this note the history of discoveries, researches and studies on vertebrate fossils of Sardinia is described, from the pioneering works of Cuvier and Wagner until the present day. The contributions of palaeontologists such as Alberto de La Marmora, Charles Immanuel Forsayth Major, Dorothy Bate, Alberto Malatesta is pointed out. A rich bibliography, including all the major papers, and many minor ones,dealing with the vertebrate palaeontology of Sardinia is also presented
ARGENTI P., KOTSAKIS T. (2009). The fossil remains of Soricidae and Leporidae (Mammalia) in the Early Pleistocene of Pietrafitta (Perugia, Central Italy). BOLLETTINO DELLA SOCIETÀ PALEONTOLOGICA ITALIANA, vol. 48, p. 59-62, ISSN: 0375-7633
No full text
Terras de Collu
No full textThe stratigraphic and systematic position of two perrisodactyl remains, ?Paralophiodon sardus and Atalonodon monterinii, collected in Early Eocene deposits in Terras de Collu (south-western Sardinia) is discussed
Comparative Analysis of the Molodensky and Kotsakis Ellipsoidal Heights Transformation between Geocentric and Non-Geocentric Datums Models
No full textThe non-availability of ellipsoidal heights of local geodetic Datums has made it necessary for the application of ellipsoidal heights transformation models to the available global ellipsoidal heights to obtain their respective theoretical heights in local Datums. It is required to know the accuracy, as well as reliability of any model of interest before its application. For that reason, this study comparatively analyses the Molodensky and Kotsakis models for the transformation of ellipsoidal heights between geocentric and non-geocentric Datums to determine the reliability of the Kotsakis model. The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data of the used stations were processed in World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) datum to obtain their global geographic coordinates and ellipsoidal heights. The coordinates, ellipsoidal heights and the transformation parameters between WGS84 and Minna Datums were applied to the Molodensky and Kotsakis models to compute the Clarke 1880 theoretical heights of the stations. The Molodensky model was used as a reference to which the Kotsakis model ellipsoidal heights were compared to obtain the Kotsakis model ellipsoidal heights discrepancies, as well as residuals. The residuals were used to compute the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the Kotsakis model. The computed RMSE, as well as reliability of the model is 1.244 m. The study concluded that the low reliability, as well as accuracy of the Kotsakis model might be as a result of the two rotation datum shift parameters in it as they are the main differences between the two models
The last occurence of Latonia (Anura: Discoglossidae) and the early Pleistocene herpetofauna of Pietrafitta (Central Italy)
No full textThe well-known fossiliferous lignite quarry of Pietrafitta (Umbria, Central Italy) yielded an abundant vertebrate assemblage that has been referred to the Farneta Faunistic Unit (Late Villafranchian, Early Pleistocene). The lignite lithosomes are a good example of plant matter accumulated in situ, over a relatively extended period of time, in a system of mashes at the periphery of a lacustrine intermontane basin. The occurence of fossil amphibians and reptiles has been quoted since 1977 by Ambrosetti & co-workers, while the chelonian fauna has been described by Kotsakis & Gregory in 1985. The recent analysis of all the material recovered so far allows to identify the presence of the following 2 amphibians and 4 reptiles: Latonia sp., Rana gr. R. ridibunda, Emys orbicularis, Colubrines indet., Natrix sp. and Vipera ammodytes. Anuran and snakes fragments devoid of taxonomical value probably belong to the above mentioned taxa. The amphibian remains outnumber those of the reptiles and, not considering the European pond terrapin, they represent nearly entirely the fossil herpetofauna. From a paleoecological point of view, although the taphonomical conditions of lignite deposit strongly bias the taxonomic composition of the fossil assemblage (it is unlikely that very small and delicate skeletons are preserved and recovered), the relative abundance of anurans and pond terrapins strengthens the presence of a humide environment with permanent water. All the fossil remains are isolated from the matrix and, with the exception of the chelonians whose shells are sometimes perfectly preserved, all the skeletal elements are completely disarticulated. A specimen of Latonia, although disarticulated, is represented by several elements found in a disordered group. The most important element of the Pietrafitta herpetofaunistic assemblage is represented by the large frog Latonia. According to a recent summary by Rage & Rocek, this genus seems to appear in the earliest Oligocene of France (MP 21), in the Miocene it is widespread from Spain to Russia, while in the Pliocene it is rather rare in Central Europe but still common in the Mediterranean area. It was thought to disappear at the end of the Pliocene but the Pietrafitta remains testify its survival into the Quaternary. The unquestionable presence of smooth maxillae contrast with the diagnosis of the only Pliocene species L. gigantea, and requires to reconsider the taxonomy of the genus or the specific chronological ranges
Revisione sistematica e distribuzione stratigrafica e geografica del genere Cynodictis Bravard & Pomel (Carnivora, Mammalia)
No full textFossil glirids of Italy: the state of the art
No full textIn this paper the fossil glirids of Italy are reviewed. Non-endemic species of the family are known from sites of Turolian, Villanyian
and Biharian age but their remains are rare. In Toringian, mammal assemblages small mammal associations
of this period are better known. The peculiar endemic glirids characterising mammalian assemblages of low biodiversity in insular
environment are more interesting. Endemic species are present in the Early Miocene of Oschiri (Sardinia), in the Late Miocene of the
Tusco-Sardinian palaeobioprovince and of the Abruzzi-Apulian palaeobioprovince, in the Plio-Pleistocene of Sardinia and of Sicily and
in the late Pleistocene of Capri Island
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