The latest Miocene small-sized Cervidae from Monticino Quarry (Brisighella, central Italy): paleobiogeographic and biochronological implications

In this paper, we described the unpublished cervid material from the latest Upper Miocene deposits of the Monticino Quarry (Brisighella, central Italy). The material includes a few teeth, some postcranials and a fragment of antler. An isolated fragment of mandible with dp4 is referred to Cervidae indet. (small-size) due to the absence of diagnostic morphological features. Two lower molars characterised by rugose enamel, the absence of Palaeomeryx fold and the presence of mesial cingulid are assigned to Pliocervus sp. A fragment of antler, characterised by ridges and furrows along the beam, which bends towards the lateral side just above the first bifurcation, a brachydont M2 and several small-sized postcranials are instead referred to Procapreolus cf. loczyi. The comparison with other latest Miocene small-sized Cervidae revealed that previous records of Paracervulus in Italy should be regarded as Pliocervus and that some records of Euprox can be instead re-assigned to Procapreolus. Accordingly, the occurrence of both Pliocervus and Procapreolus is indicative of latest Miocene Italian faunas referred to MN13 and suggests biogeographic affinity with Eastern European latest Miocene mammal assemblages.