Montpellier (Pliocene of France)

Where: France (43.6° N, 3.9° E: paleocoordinates 43.7° N, 3.5° E)

• coordinate estimated from map

When: MN 14 zone, Sables à Gryphaea virleti Formation, Zanclean (5.3 - 3.6 Ma)

• MN 14 according to Bianucci et al 2008

Environment/lithology: marine; sandstone

Size class: macrofossils

Primary reference: M. Gennevaux and F. Roman. 1922. Monographie Paléontologique de La faune de vertebres des sables de Montpellier I. Les Baleinopteres. Travauz du laboratoire de geologie de la Faculte des Sciences de Lyon 2(2):5-40 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen/M. Uhen]more details

Purpose of describing collection: general faunal/floral analysis

PaleoDB collection 56693: authorized by Mark Uhen, entered by Mark Uhen on 22.11.2005, edited by Jelle Zijlstra and David Nicholson

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Mammalia
 Perissodactyla - Rhinocerotidae
Rhinoceros leptorhinus9 Cuvier 1822 one-horned rhinoceros
 Cetacea - Physeteridae
Physeter antiquus n. sp.9 Gervais 1849 sperm whale
 Cetacea -
Hoplocetus curvidens n. sp.4, "Balaenoptera prisca" = Siphonocetus priscus
Hoplocetus curvidens n. sp.4 Gervais 1852 toothed whale
"Balaenoptera prisca" = Siphonocetus priscus Leidy 1851 whale
 Artiodactyla - Cervidae
Paracervulus christoli n. sp.3 Dong 1996 deer
4 antlers (including holotype UM 4052), 17 dentures, 4 limb bones
Cervavitus cauvieri n. sp.3 de Christol 1832 deer
Lectotype antler (UM055); two fragments of one antler (UM4083, UM4063); maxillary fragment with P3-M3 (UM4099); left mandible with P2-M1 (UM4055). Said to be from "Marnes superposées aux sables marins pliocènes des environs de Montpellier (MN 14).", which may or may not be the same place as other taxa listed here.
 Carnivora - Phocidae
"Phoca occitana n. sp." = Pristiphoca occitana5
"Phoca occitana n. sp." = Pristiphoca occitana5 Gervais and de Serres 1847 seal
 Sirenia -
Sirenia indet.7 Illiger 1811 sirenian
 Sirenia - Dugongidae
Metaxytherium sp. n. gen.1, "Felsinotherium serresii" = Metaxytherium serresii2
Metaxytherium sp. n. gen.1 de Christol 1840 dugong
"Felsinotherium serresii" = Metaxytherium serresii2 Gervais 1847 dugong
Reptilia
 Testudines - Geoemydidae
Mauremys sp.6 Gray 1870 pond turtle
Listed by Bergounioux 1933 as "Clemmys sophiae var monspessulana"
Actinopteri
 Istiophoriformes - Istiophoridae
Encheiziphius teretirostris n. gen. n. sp.8 Rutimeyer 1857