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GÖHLICH, Ursula Bettina:Elephantoidea (Proboscidea, Mammalia) aus dem Mittel- und Obermiozän der Oberen Süßwassermolasse Süddeutschlands: Odontologie und Osteologie1998. [in German] – 245 pp., numerous figures, 18 plates. ISBN 978-3-931516-44-4 Euro 80.00 |
This study presents mainly unpublished material of gomphotheres and mammutids of the Bavarian Upper Freshwater Molasse, which is preserved in the Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und historische Geologie in Munich. Mostly molars and some premolars and tusks (a total of 119 teeth) from 28 different sites from the upper middle Miocene to early late Miocene (MN 8-MN 9) were available for odontological research. Teeth and mandibles are mostly in fragmentary condition.
The specimens are attributed to Gomphotherium angustidens, Gomphotherium subtapiroideum, Gomphotherium steinheimense, Gomphotherium aff. steinheimense, Tetralophodon longirostris and Zygolophodon turicensis. Bunolophodon grandidens, which was established by Gaziry (1994) based on a few teeth, also examined in this study, is included in the synonymy of Gomphotherium steinheimense.
These odontological examinations implicated a critical discussion about the above-mentioned and some other elephantoid taxa and their validity and taxonomic status. All of the teeth were morphologically and metrically examined and evaluated and are described and documented in detail. Wider comparisons with neogene, mostly European material are made and extensively discussed. This study elucidates the seldom mentioned difficulties and existing uncertainties met in the determination of the teeth of gomphotheres and mammutids. Due to many specimens being poorly preserved and insufficient knowledge about the meaning and variability of certain characters of the teeth, it was not always possible to make determinations with absolute certainty. Those problems and the inexact dating of many localities do not allow recognition of new aspects about biochronological use and phylogenetic questions about the miocene elephantoidea.
The extensive second part of this study contains a monography of the skeleton from Gweng near Mühldorf, which was determined to be Gomphotherium aff. steinheimense in this examination. This skeleton, represented by about 170 bones in addition to the cranium, has an outstanding scientific importance because of its extraordinary complete preservation. All elements of the skeleton are osteologically described in detail, measured and documented by drawings and photographs. The examination allows the conclusion that it is an old male and pathological-anatomical structures indicate a serious injury in the animal's juvenile life. There are some new aspects for the reconstruction of the skeleton.
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| Copyright © 2008 Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil |