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{{Short description|Rock layers based on occurrences of fossil assemblages of European land mammals}}
{{Cenozoic graphical timeline|embedded=}}
The '''European Land Mammal Mega Zones''' (abbreviation: '''ELMMZ''', more commonly known as '''European land mammal ages''' or '''ELMA''') are zones in rock layers that have a specific assemblage of fossils ([[biozone]]s) based on occurrences of fossil assemblages of [[Europe]]an land [[mammal]]s. These biozones cover most of the [[Cenozoic]], with particular focus having been paid to the [[Neogene]] and [[Paleogene]] [[system (stratigraphy)|systems]] (i.e. rock layers which are 65.5 to 2.588 million years old), the [[Quaternary]] has several competing systems. In cases when fossils of mammals are abundant, [[stratigraphy|stratigraphers]] and [[paleontology|paleontologists]] can use these biozones as a more practical regional alternative to the [[stage (stratigraphy)|stages]] of the official [[International Commission on Stratigraphy|ICS]] [[geologic timescale]]. European Land Mammal Mega Zones are often also confusingly referred to as ages, stages, or intervals.<ref>According to Steininger (1999), it is better to just use ELMMZ's in a [[biostratigraphy|biostratigraphic]] sense</ref>

==Biostratigraphic methods==
Mammal zones were, like all biozones, established using geographic place names where [[fossil]] materials were obtained. The basic unit of measure is the first/last boundary statement. This shows that the first appearance event of one [[taxon]] is known to predate the last appearance event of another. If two [[taxa]] are found in the same fossil [[quarry]] or at the same [[horizon (stratigraphy)|stratigraphic horizon]], then their age-range zones overlap.

The terrestrial stratigraphy of the [[Cenozoic]] is more difficult than that of marine deposits. The geologic timescale of the ICS is therefore based on marine fossils, that don't occur in terrestrial sediments. This makes the [[correlation (geology)|correlation]] of terrestrial deposits with the ICS timescale often difficult. Correlation is possible when marine deposits interfinger with terrestrial deposits (resulting from a series of [[Marine transgression|transgressions]] and [[Marine regression|regression]]s of the sea during deposition), but this isn't the case everywhere. A fine stratigraphic division of the terrestrial record can in most places only be made using fossils of land species. Small mammals are often the best choice as they are quite abundant in the terrestrial record, especially their teeth. Teeth have an even better chance of preservation than bones.

The European mammalian biozones were established for the [[Paleogene]] (66-23.03 [[Million years ago|Mya]], 8 zones) and [[Neogene]] (23.03-2.58 [[Million years ago|Mya]], 7 zones) separately. Some of these, especially for the Neogene, were already established in the 19th century. The [[Villafranchian]] was, for example, introduced by [[Lorenzo Pareto]] in 1865. A finer subdivision was established by [[Pierre Mein]] in 1975, who divided the Neogene in 17 zones, known as the [[MN zonation]], indicated by the letters MN (Mammal Neogene) and a number.

Similarly, a more detailed subdivision for the Paleogene period was established. There are 30 such [[Mammal Paleogene zone]]s (MP1 to MP30, numbered from old to young).<ref>[https://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=processViewScale&scale_no=125 Mammal Paleogene zones], The Paleobiology Database</ref>

== Paleogene European mammal zones ==
{{Main|Mammal Paleogene zones}}
{{Paleogene ELMA}}
There are 30 [[Mammal Paleogene zone]]s covering the [[Paleogene]] (66-23.03 [[Million years ago|Mya]]).

==Neogene European mammal zones==
{{Main|Mammal Neogene zones}}
{{Neogene ELMA}}
European Land Mammal Mega Zones most often have their bases at first appearances (FAD, First Appearance Date) of a certain [[species]] or [[genus]]. The numbers are higher for younger zones. Due to a redefinition of the boundary between the Neogene and [[Quaternary]] periods, MN 17 is now in fact considered a Quaternary biozone.
{| class= "wikitable float-right"
! Biozone
! Small mammals
! Large mammals
|----
|MN 17
|''[[Kislangia|Kislangia gusi]]'', ''[[Mimomys (genus)|Mimomys tornensis]]'', ''Mimomys pliocaenicus'', ''Mimomys reidi''
|''[[Eucladoceros]]''
|-
|MN 16
|''Kislangia ischus'', ''Mimomys polonicus'', ''Kislangia cappettai'', ''Mimomys hajnackensis''
|[[Horse|''Equus'' (horse)]], [[Mammuthus|''Mammuthus'' (mammoth)]], ''[[Homotherium]]'', ''[[Megantereon]]'', ''[[Ursus etruscus]]'', <br/>''[[Pliohyaena|Pliohyaena perrieri]]'', ''[[Gazellospira|Gazellospira torticornis]]'', ''[[Arvernoceros|Arvernoceros ardei]]'', ''[[Hesperidoceras|Hesperidoceras merlai]]'', ''[[Cervus|Cervus perrieri]]''
|-
|MN 15
|''Mimomys occitanus'', ''[[Oryctolagus]]'', ''Mimomys vandemeuleni'', ''Mimomys davakosi''
| ''[[Chasmaporthetes|Chasmaporthetes lunensis]]''
|-
|MN 14
|''[[Promimomys]]'', ''[[Trilophomys]]'', ''[[Celadensia]]'', [[Beaver|''Castor'' (beaver)]]
|''[[Sus arvernensis]]'', ''[[Croizetoceros]]'', ''[[Acinonyx]]'', ''[[Lynx issiodorensis]]''
|-
| MN 13
|''[[Paraethomys]]'', ''[[Rhagapodemnus]]'', ''[[Stephanomys]]'', ''[[Apodemus]]'', ''[[Apocricetus]]''
| ''[[Parabos]]'', ''[[Paracamelus]]'', ''[[Agriotherium]]'', ''[[Apocricetus]]'', ''[[Nyctereutes]]'', ''[[Hexaprotodon]]''
|-
|MN 12
|''[[Parapodemus|Parapodemus barbarae]]'', ''[[Huerzelerimys|Huerzelerimys turoliensis]]''
| ''[[Pliocervus]]'', ''[[Hispanodorcas]]'', ''[[Palaeoryx]]'', ''[[Occitanomys|Occitanomys adroveri]]'', ''[[Capreolus|Procapreolus]]''
|-
|MN 11
| ''Parapodemus lugdunensis'', ''Huerzelerimys vireti'', ''Occitanomys sondaari''
|''[[Birgerbohlinia]]'', ''[[Lucentia]]''
|-
| MN 10
| ''[[Rotundomys]]'', ''[[Pliopetaurista]]'', ''[[Schreuderia]]'', ''[[Progonomys|Progonomys cathalai]]''
| ''Hyaenictis almerai'', ''[[Adcrocuta|Adcrocuta eximia]]'', ''[[Microstonyx|Microstonyx major]]'', ''[[Tragoportax|Tragoportax gaufryi]]''
|-
| MN 9
| ''[[Cricetulodon]]''
| ''[[Hippotherium]]'', ''[[Decennatherium]]'', ''[[Machairodus]]''
|-
| MN 7/8
| ''[[Megacricetodon|Megacricetodon ibericus]]'', ''Megacricetodon gregarius''
| ''[[Parachleuastochoerus]]'', ''[[Propotamochoerus]]'', ''[[Palaeotragus]]'', ''[[Protragocerus]]'', ''[[Tetralophodon]]''
|-
|MN 6
| ''Megacricetodon crusafonti'', ''Megacricetodon gersi''
| ''[[Tethytragus]]'', ''[[Hispanomeryx]]'', ''[[Euprox]]'', ''[[Listriodon]]''
|-
| MN 5
| ''Megacricetodon collongensis''
|''[[Miotragocerus]]'', ''[[Micromeryx]]'', ''[[Heteroprox]]'', ''[[Hispanotherium]]''
|-
| MN 4
| ''Megacricetodon primitivus''
| ''[[Bunolistriodon]]'', ''[[Dorcatherium]]'', ''[[Chalicotherium]]'', ''[[Eotragus]]'', ''[[Prodeinotherium]]''
|-
|MN 3
||
| ''[[Gomphotherium]]'', ''[[Procervulus]]'', ''[[Lagomeryx]]'', ''[[Actoocemas]]'', ''[[Palaeomeryx]]'', ''[[Brachyodus]]'', ''[[Anchitherium]]'', ''[[Aureliachoerus]]'', ''[[Hemicyon]]''
|-
| MN 2
| ''[[Ligerimys]]'', ''[[Prolagus]]'', ''[[Lagopsis (animal)|Lagopsis]]'', ''[[Ritternia|Ritterneria manca]]''
| ''[[Teruelia]]'', ''[[Lorancameryx]]'', ''[[Oriomeryx]]'', ''[[Pseudaelurus]]'', ''[[Xenohyus]]'', ''[[Andegameryx]]'', ''[[Amphitragulus]]''
|-
| MN 1
| ''[[Rhodanomys|Rhodanomys schlosseri]]'', ''[[Vasseuromys]]''
| ''[[Hyotherium]]''
|}

== Quaternary European mammal zones ==
The first zonation for the [[Quaternary]] of Europe was proposed by Azzaroli in 1967.<ref>Azzaroli, Augusto. 1967. “Villafranchian Correlations Based on Large Mammals.” Giornale di Geologia 35 (1): 21</ref> This was then expanded by Gliozzi ''et al.'' in 1997 to make a system of 3 'ages' subdivided into 13 'faunal units'.<ref name="Gliozzi">Gliozzi, Elsa, Laura Abbazzi, Patrizia Argenti, Augusto Azzaroli, Lucia Caloi, Lucia Capasso Barbato, Giuseppe Di Stefano, et al. 1997. “Biochronology of Selected Mammals, Molluscs and Ostracods from the Middle Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene in Italy: The State of the Art.” Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 103 (3): 369–88.</ref> The scheme does not define boundaries but instead is accompanied by a range chart, where the entry and exit dates for the taxa are indicated. Each zone is named after a reference locality. Most of the reference locations are in Italy but the scheme is used in other European regions. The mammal ages and Faunal Units (FU) after Gliozzi ''et al.'' are:
{| class= "wikitable float-right"
|+ Mammal Ages after Gliozzi ''et al.'', 1997<ref name="Gliozzi" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Pleistocene Mammals of Europe|last=Kurten|first=Bjorn|publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson|year=1968|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pandolfi |first=Luca |last2=Pierre-Olivier |first2=Antoine |last3=Bukhsianidze |first3=Maia |last4=Lordkipanidze |first4=David |last5=Rook |first5=Lorenzo |date=2021-08-03 |title=Northern Eurasian rhinocerotines (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) by the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition: phylogeny and historical biogeography |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2021.1995907 |journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology |language=en |volume=19 |issue=15 |pages=1031–1057 |doi=10.1080/14772019.2021.1995907 |issn=1477-2019|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Frantz |first=Laurent |last2=Meijaard |first2=Erik |last3=Gongora |first3=Jaime |last4=Haile |first4=James |last5=Groenen |first5=Martien A.M. |last6=Larson |first6=Greger |date=2016-02-15 |title=The Evolution of Suidae |url=https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-animal-021815-111155 |journal=Annual Review of Animal Biosciences |language=en |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=61–85 |doi=10.1146/annurev-animal-021815-111155 |issn=2165-8102|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lister |first=Adrian M. |last2=Sher |first2=Andrei V. |last3=van Essen |first3=Hans |last4=Wei |first4=Guangbiao |date=2005-01-01 |title=The pattern and process of mammoth evolution in Eurasia |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104061820400076X |journal=Quaternary International |series=Studying Proboscideans: knowledge, Problems and Perspectives. Selected papers from "The world of Elephants" Congress, Rome |volume=126-128 |pages=49–64 |doi=10.1016/j.quaint.2004.04.014 |issn=1040-6182|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Croitor |first=Roman |title=Plio-Pleistocene Deer of Western Palearctic: Taxonomy, Systematics, Phylogeny |date= |publisher=Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova |year=2018 |isbn=978-9975-66-609-1 |oclc=1057238213}}</ref>
|-
! Mammal Age !! Faunal Unit !! sub-age !! Large Mammals
|-
|rowspan="7"| [[Villafranchian]] <br>([[Middle Pliocene]] to [[Early Pleistocene]])
| Triversa
| Early Villafranchian
| ''[[Pliorhinus|Pliorhinus megarhinus]]'', ''[[Sus (genus)|Sus minor]]'', ''[[Alephis liryx]]'', ''[[Felsinotherium gervaisi]]''
|-
| Montopoli
|Early Villafranchian
| ''[[Mammuthus gromovi]]'', ''[[Equus (genus)|Equus lioenzwensi]]'', ''[[Stephanorhinus etruscus]]''
|-
| Costa S. Giacomo
|Middle Villafranchian
| ''[[Canis]]'', ''[[Sus strozzi]]'', ''[[Leptobos|Leptobos furtivus]]'', ''[[Hystrix refossa]]'', ''[[Gazellospira|Gazellospira torticomis]]'', ''[[Anancus arvernensis]]''
|-
| Olivola
|Late Villafranchian
| ''[[Pachycrocuta brevirostris]]'', ''[[Panthera gombaszoegensis]]'', ''[[Procamptoceras brivatense]]'', ''[[Eucladoceros|Eucladoceros dicranios]]'', ''[[Eucladoceros|Eucladoceros nestii]]'', ''[[Pseudodama]]'', ''[[Canis etruscus]]''
|-
| Tasso
|Late Villafranchian
| ''[[Hippopotamus antiquus]]'', ''[[Praeovibos|Praevibos]]'', ''[[Leptobos|Leptobos vallisarni]]'', ''[[Equus (genus)|Equus stehlini]]'', ''[[Canis arnensis]]'', ''[[Canis falconeri]]''
|-
| Farnetta
|Late Villafranchian
| ''[[Leptobos|Leptobos vallisarni]]'', ''[[Eucladoceros|Eucladoceros dicranios]]'', ''[[Eucladoceros|Eucladoceros nestii]]'', ''[[Praemegaceros|Praemegaceros obscurus]]'', ''[[Microtus]]''
|-
| Piro Nord
|Late Villafranchian
| [[Bison]], ''[[Praemegaceros|Praemegaceros solilhacus]]''
|-
|rowspan="4"| [[Galerian Mammal Age|Galerian]] <br>([[Middle Pleistocene]])
| Colle Curti
|Early Galerian
| ''[[Equus altidens]]'', ''[[Equus bressanus]]'', ''[[Equus sussenbornensis]]'', ''[[Praemegaceros|Praemegaceros verticornis]]''
|-
| Silvia
|Middle Galerian
| ''[[Cervus elaphus acoronatus]]''
|-
| Isernia
|Middle Galerian
| ''[[Panthera fossilis]]'', ''[[Palaeoloxodon antiquus]]'', ''[[Mammuthus trogontherii]]'', ''[[Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis]]'', ''[[Megaloceros|Megaloceros savini]]'', ''[[Bos]]'', ''[[Bison schoetensacki]]'', ''[[Equus caballus]]'', ''[[Pseudodama]]''
|-
| Fontana Ranuccio
|Late Galerian
| ''[[Homotherium latidens]]'', ''[[Cervus elaphus|Cervus elaphus eostephanoceros]]'', ''[[Dama (genus)|Dama clactoniana]]'', ''[[Equus altidens]]'', ''[[Equus sussenbornensis]]''
|-
|rowspan="3"| [[Aurelian Mammal Age|Aurelian]] <br>(late [[Middle Pleistocene]] to [[Late Pleistocene]])
| Torre in Pietra
|Early Aurelian
| ''[[Canis lupus]]'', ''[[Ursus spelaeus]]'', ''[[Megaloceros giganteus]]'', ''[[Cervus elaphus|Cervus elaphus rianensis]]''
|-
| Vitinia
|Middle Aurelian
| ''[[Dama dama|Dama dama tiberina]]'', ''[[Equus hydruntinus]]''
|-
| none designated
|Late Aurelian
| ''[[Dama dama|Dama dama dama]]'', ''[[Capra ibex]]'', ''[[Coelodonta antiquitatis]]'', ''[[Mammuthus primigenius]]''
|}

In 1982, Guérin<ref>Guérin, Claude. 1982. “Première Biozonation du Pléistocène Européen, Principal Résultat Biostratigraphique de l'Étude des Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) du Miocène Terminal au Pléistocène Supérieur d'Europe Occidentale.” Geobios 15 (4): 593–98. DOI:10.1016/s0016-6995(82)80076-4</ref> proposed an alternative scheme, which extended the [[MN zonation]] scheme for the [[Neogene]] with additional units to cover the Quaternary. There have been further updates since.<ref>Faure, Martine, and Claude Guérin. 1992. “La Grande Faune d'Europe Occidentale au Pléistocène Moyen et Supérieur et ses Potentialités d'Information en Préhistoire.” Mémoires de la Société Géologíque de France 160: 77–84.</ref> The MNQ (Mammal Neogene Quaternary) scheme added an additional 12 units in total, MNQ 16–27.

For small mammals there is a third scheme, the MmQ, published by Agustí, Moyà‐Solà, and Pons‐Moyà in 1987.<ref>Agustí, Jordi, Salvador Moyà‐Solà, and Joan Pons‐Moyà. 1987. “La Sucesión de Mamíferos en el Pleistoceno Inferior de Europa: Proposición de Una Nueva Escala Bioestratigráfica.” Paleontología i Eovlució, mem. esp. 1: 287–95.</ref> The scheme includes some large mammals for reference and thus has a wider application.<ref>van der, Made, J. (2018). Quaternary Large‐Mammal Zones. In The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences, S.L. López Varela (Ed.). doi:10.1002/9781119188230.saseas0486</ref>

==Other continental mammalian biozones==
*[[Asian land mammal age]]
*[[Mammal Paleogene zone]]
*[[North American land mammal age]]
*[[South American land mammal age]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Notes===
{{notelist}}

===Literature===
*Koufos, G.D.; Kostopoulos, D.S. & Vlachou, T.D. (2005). '"Neogene/Quaternary mammalian migrations in Eastern Mediterranean", ''Belgian Journal of Zoology'' '''135'''(2): pp. 181–190.
*{{cite journal|last1=Lindsay|first1=Everett|title=Eurasian mammal biochronology: an overview|journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology|date=October 1997|volume=133|issue=3–4|pages=117–128|doi=10.1016/S0031-0182(97)00083-7|bibcode=1997PPP...133..117L }}
*Mein, P. (1975). ''Report on activity RCMNS-Working groups, 1971–1975'', pp. 78–81, Bratislava.
*{{cite book|last1=Rose|first1=Kenneth D.|title=The beginning of the age of mammals|date=2006|publisher=Johns Hopkins Univ. Press|location=Baltimore, Md.|isbn=978-0801884726}}
*{{cite book|last=Steininger |first=F.F. |chapter=Chronostratigraphy, Geochronology and Biochronology of the Miocene "European Land Mammal Mega-Zones" (ELMMZ) and the Miocene "Mammal Zones (MN-Zones)" |pages=9–24 |editor-last1=Rössner|editor-first1=G. E.|editor-last2=Heissig|editor-first2=K.|title=The Miocene land mammals of Europe|date=1999|publisher=Pfeil|location=München|isbn=3-931516-50-4}}

==External links==
* [http://stratigraphy.science.purdue.edu/charts/educational.html Stratigraphic charts] at http://stratigraphy.science.purdue.edu

[[Category:Cenozoic mammals of Europe| ]]
[[Category:Regional geologic time scales]]
[[Category:Biochronology]]
[[Category:Cenozoic Europe]]
[[Category:Prehistoric mammals of Europe|*]]

[[de:ELMMZ Neogen]]

European land mammal age - Revision history

imported>OAbot: Open access bot: url-access updated in citation with #oabot.