Mammals from the Paleocene—Eocene transition in Belgium (Tienen Formation, MP7): Palaeobiogeographical and biostratigraphical implications
2000; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 122; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/11035890001221148
ISSN2000-0863
Autores Tópico(s)Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
ResumoMammal faunas from five outcrop sections in the Tienen Formation (Dormaal, Orp-le-Grand, Hoegaarden, Erqueiinnes, and Levai), representing the Paleocene-Eocene transition in Belgium, have been analysed (Smith 1999). The study of the Dormaai fauna, the nchest and most diversified among these, permitted to speciQ reference level MW of the mammalian biochronological scale for the European Paleogene (SchmidtKittler 1987). This fauna is characterised by the first occurrence of modem mammal groups among which the most typical species are: Teilhardina belgica (euprimate), Diacodexis gigasei (artiodactyl), Microparamys nanus (rodent), Miacis latouri (miacid carnivore), Prototomus n. sp. D, and Afia n. sp. E (hyaenodontid creodonts). These CO-occur with species of persisting primitive groups, such as Paschatherium dolloi (hyopsodontid condylarth), Landenodon woutersi (arctocyonid), Platychoerops georgei (plesiadapid primate), Palaeosinopa russelli (pantolestid), and Apatemys teilhardi (apatotherid). Recent excavations in the stratotype of the Dormaal Sand Member (see Smith & Smith 1996) have led to a better understanding of the biodiversity and the palaeobiogeographical affinities of the mammal fauna at the Paleocene/Eocene boundary in Belgium. About 14,000 teeth have been identified, per ta i~ng to fifty-five taxa, including 37 genera, 20 families, and 13 orders. About 99% of the specimens, belonging to fifty taxa, come from Dormaal. The palaeoecological analysis of the Dormaai m m mal fauna, microfaunas and floras (Steurbaut et al. 1999) indicates a warm and humid ciimate in a wooded area, dominated by a large nver system. This environment was rich in insects as showed by the numerous forest mammal species with insectivomus and arboreai tendencies. Of the 37 mamrnal genera discovered in Belgium, 25 are also present in the other MP7 localities of North Europe. Only 12 are known from southem Europe. Paradoxically, at least 22 genera are comrnon with North Arnerica. The Asiatic faunas are not well known but at least five genera are common with East Asia. The close palaeobiogeographical affinities of the marnmals within the Anglo-FrancoBelgian Basin suggest that there were faunal exchanges throughout that area, resulting from the existence of land bridges between England and the rest of NW Europe. Our observations also confirm Marandat's (1997) hypothesis that two geographically or climatologically isolated provinces existed in Europe at the PaleoceneEocene boundary: The Anglo-Franco-Belgian Basin in the north and the peri-mesogean basins in the south. The strong affinities between the North European and North Amencan faunas aiso c o n f m the hypothesis that a land bridge via Greenland existed between these areas (Kurten 1966). The low afinities between the European and Asian faunas suggest that there was no direct land connection between these continents and that the few cornrnon genera should have crossed the Bering Strait, North Arnenca, and Greenland. A few genera, persisting
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