Primer hallazgo de un vivérrido (Carnivora, Mammalia) en el Mioceno superior de la Fosa de Teruel (España)

Resum

A jaw fragment with the P3-M1 series of the ViverridaeSemigenetta ripolli Petter, 1976 from the Spanish Upper Vallesian (MN 10) is described. It has been found in a new locality, called Masía de La Roma 604 (MR 604), in La Roma area (Teruel Basin, Spain), located around the J2-J3 limit of the zonation of Van Dam (1997), with an age of about 9 Ma. Its interest comes partly from the scarcity of representatives of the family Viverridae in the fossil record of the Iberian Peninsula. In fact, this is the first report on a viverrid in the Teruel Basin, in spite of the great richness of fossil vertebrates in this basin. Semigenetta Helbing, 1927 is a relatively frequent genus in European Lower and Middle Miocene sites (from MN3 to MN7/8), with the succession of species Semigenetta elegans DEHM, 1950 - Semigenetta repelini Helbing, 1927 (or S. aff. sansaniensis)- Semigenetta sansaniensis (Lartet, 1851). During this time interval, there is basically a gradual size increase, with some morphological changes of teeth. So, the M undergoes an increase of the protoconid height and a metaconid and talonid reduction. However, in the Upper Miocene the genus Semigenetta has only been found in Vallesian Spanish sites. It is represented by two species which diverge from the above outlined pattern. Semigenetta grandis Crusafont& Golpe, 1981, from Castell de Barber (MN9), has a comparatively enormous size, and shows the greatest carnivorism degree within the genus: the most powerful mandible, M with the relatively best developed paraconid-protoconid complex and the smallest talonid, an also robust premolars (like in the Hyaenidae). On the other hand, Semigenetta ripolli Petter, 1976 from Can Llobateres (also Lower Vallesian, MN9), shows a morphology similar to S. sansaniensis, but with a size that fits in the maximum values of S. elegans, from the Lower Miocene of Europe (MN3), which is the smallest and most primitive species in this genus. The S. ripolli specimen here described represents the most modern Semigenetta in the fossil record, and shows very evolved morphological features, like a M with a very high protoconid and very reduced metaconid and talonid. All this, excepting its small size, is in accordance with the observed pattern in the evolution ofSemigenetta during the Lower and Middle Miocene. The differential diagnosis of Semigenetta ripolli is as follows: Semigenetta with the size of S. elegans, with a characterized by having a very high protoconid, a very reduced talonid and a metaconid smaller than in the rest of species in the genus. 2>The main goal of this contribution is to underline the determinant role of vegetation in landscape configuration. Key factor of the vegetal component of landscape and its dynamic are briefly introduced to describe the most conspicuous landscape units of the Iberian Peninsula; i.e. Atlantic and Mediterranean forests, bushes, riparian and mountain vegetation, pseudo-steppes. Finally, the most relevant threatens of these landscapes are identified.