Here, we describe a partial cranium of a large canid dated at 406.5 ± 2.4 ka from the Middle Pleistocene of Ponte Galeria (Rome, Italy). The sample represents one of the few Middle Pleistocene remains of a wolf-like canid falling within the timeframe when the Canis mosbachensis–Canis lupus transition occurred, a key moment to understand the spread of the extant wolf (Canis lupus) in Europe. CT-based methods allow studying the outer and inner cranial anatomy (brain and frontal sinuses) of a selected sample of fossil and extant canids. Morphological and biometric results allowed to: (I) ascribe the cranium from Ponte Galeria to an adult Canis lupus, representing the first reliable occurrence of this taxon in Europe; (II) provide the content for a biochronological revision of the Middle Pleistocene record of European wolves.

A Middle Pleistocene wolf from central Italy provides insights on the first occurrence of Canis lupus in Europe / Iurino, D. A.; Mecozzi, B.; Iannucci, A.; Moscarella, A.; Strani, F.; Bona, F.; Gaeta, M.; Sardella, R.. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 12:1(2022). [10.1038/s41598-022-06812-5]

A Middle Pleistocene wolf from central Italy provides insights on the first occurrence of Canis lupus in Europe

Iurino D. A.
;
Mecozzi B.;Iannucci A.;Moscarella A.;Strani F.;Bona F.;Gaeta M.;Sardella R.
2022

Abstract

Here, we describe a partial cranium of a large canid dated at 406.5 ± 2.4 ka from the Middle Pleistocene of Ponte Galeria (Rome, Italy). The sample represents one of the few Middle Pleistocene remains of a wolf-like canid falling within the timeframe when the Canis mosbachensis–Canis lupus transition occurred, a key moment to understand the spread of the extant wolf (Canis lupus) in Europe. CT-based methods allow studying the outer and inner cranial anatomy (brain and frontal sinuses) of a selected sample of fossil and extant canids. Morphological and biometric results allowed to: (I) ascribe the cranium from Ponte Galeria to an adult Canis lupus, representing the first reliable occurrence of this taxon in Europe; (II) provide the content for a biochronological revision of the Middle Pleistocene record of European wolves.
2022
Canis lupus; Middle Pleistocene; Ponte Galeria
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
A Middle Pleistocene wolf from central Italy provides insights on the first occurrence of Canis lupus in Europe / Iurino, D. A.; Mecozzi, B.; Iannucci, A.; Moscarella, A.; Strani, F.; Bona, F.; Gaeta, M.; Sardella, R.. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 12:1(2022). [10.1038/s41598-022-06812-5]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Iurino_A Middle Pleistocene_2022.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 4.14 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
4.14 MB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1616892
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 11
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 7
social impact