MN 4 (biostratigraphy)
Encyclopedia
In biostratigraphy
, MN 4 is one of the MN zones
used to characterize the fossil mammal faunas of the Neogene
of Europe. It is preceded by MN 3 and followed by MN 5
; together, these three zones form the Orleanian
age of the middle Miocene
. This zone starts within magnetostratigraphic
chron C5Dr, at 18 million years ago, and ends within chron C5Cr, at 17.0 million years ago, although some different correlations have been proposed.
The reference locality used to correlate faunas with this zone is La Romieu
(southwestern France); other localities include Artesilla and Buñol
in Spain, Tägernaustrasse in Switzerland, Erkertshofen 2 and Petersbuch 2 in Germany, Belchatov C in Poland, and Aliveri
in Greece.
In this zone, the common muroid
rodent Democricetodon immigrates into Europe from Asia, followed shortly after by three other muroids: Megacricetodon, Eumyarion, and Anomalomys. Cricetodon, which later also reaches western Europe, is only present in Greece in MN 4 in Europe. The archaic muroid Melissiodon last appears in MN 4, as does Ligerimys, a member of the extinct rodent family Eomyidae
. The dormouse
Glirulus, which occurs in older deposits in Turkey, first appears in Europe; this genus contains a single living species, the Japanese dormouse
(Glirulus japonicus).
The proboscidea
n genera—members of the group that includes the elephant
s—Archaeobelodon
and Prodeinotherium
first appear in Europe. The rhinoceros Diaceratherium last appears in MN 4 and five other rhinoceros genera, Plesiaceratherium, Brachypotherium, Lartetotherium, Gaindatherium, and Hispanotherium
, make their first appearance. Phyllotillon, a member of the related extinct family Chalicotheriidae, migrates into Europe during MN 4. Several artiodactyls, such as the pig Bunolistriodon, the tragulid Dorcatherium, the deer
-like Lagomeryx, the bovid
-like Amphimoschus, and the first true bovid of Europe, Eotragus
, first occur during MN 4. The last occurrence of the primitive ruminant
Amphitragulus also falls in this zone. The immigrant African creodont Hyainailouros occurs in Europe during MN 4. Among carnivora
ns, the first occurrences of the mustelid
Leptoplesictis and the saber-toothed Prosansanosmilus
fall in MN 4.
Biostratigraphy
Biostratigraphy is the branch of stratigraphy which focuses on correlating and assigning relative ages of rock strata by using the fossil assemblages contained within them. Usually the aim is correlation, demonstrating that a particular horizon in one geological section represents the same period...
, MN 4 is one of the MN zones
MN zonation
The MN zonation is a system used to correlate mammal-bearing fossil localities in the Miocene and Pliocene of Europe. It consists of sixteen consecutive zones defined through reference faunas, well-known sites that other localities can be correlated with.The zones are as follows:*MN 1*MN 2*MN 3*MN...
used to characterize the fossil mammal faunas of the Neogene
Neogene
The Neogene is a geologic period and system in the International Commission on Stratigraphy Geologic Timescale starting 23.03 ± 0.05 million years ago and ending 2.588 million years ago...
of Europe. It is preceded by MN 3 and followed by MN 5
MN 5 (biostratigraphic zone)
In biostratigraphy, MN 5 is one of the MN zones used to characterize the fossil mammal faunas of the Neogene of Europe. It is preceded by MN 4 and followed by MN 6 and is part of the Orleanian age of the middle Miocene...
; together, these three zones form the Orleanian
Orleanian
The Orleanian age is a period of geologic time , within the Miocene and used more specifically with European Land Mammal Ages. It precedes the Astaracian age and follows the Agenian age....
age of the middle Miocene
Middle Miocene
The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene....
. This zone starts within magnetostratigraphic
Magnetostratigraphy
Magnetostratigraphy is a geophysical correlation technique used to date sedimentary and volcanic sequences. The method works by collecting oriented samples at measured intervals throughout the section. The samples are analyzed to determine their characteristic remanent magnetization , that is, the...
chron C5Dr, at 18 million years ago, and ends within chron C5Cr, at 17.0 million years ago, although some different correlations have been proposed.
The reference locality used to correlate faunas with this zone is La Romieu
La Romieu
La Romieu is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.It is known for its magnificent Collégiale St. Pierre, a 14th century cloister with a tower.-Population:-References:*...
(southwestern France); other localities include Artesilla and Buñol
Buñol
Buñol is a town and municipality in the province of Valencia, Spain. The municipality has an area of some 112 km², and is situated approximately 38 km west of the provincial and autonomous community capital city, Valencia...
in Spain, Tägernaustrasse in Switzerland, Erkertshofen 2 and Petersbuch 2 in Germany, Belchatov C in Poland, and Aliveri
Aliveri
Aliveri , is a town in the Greek island of Euboea. It is part of the municipal unit Taminaioi, and the seat of the municipality Kymi-Aliveri. Aliveri is linked by the GR-44 . Aliveri lies next to the South Euboic Gulf...
in Greece.
In this zone, the common muroid
Muroidea
Muroidea is a large superfamily of rodents. It includes hamsters, gerbils, true mice and rats, and many other relatives. They occupy a vast variety of habitats on every continent except Antarctica. Some authorities have placed all members of this group into a single family, Muridae, due to...
rodent Democricetodon immigrates into Europe from Asia, followed shortly after by three other muroids: Megacricetodon, Eumyarion, and Anomalomys. Cricetodon, which later also reaches western Europe, is only present in Greece in MN 4 in Europe. The archaic muroid Melissiodon last appears in MN 4, as does Ligerimys, a member of the extinct rodent family Eomyidae
Eomyidae
Eomyidae is a family of extinct rodents from North America and Eurasia related to modern day pocket gophers and kangaroo rats. The family includes the earliest known gliding rodent, Eomys -References:...
. The dormouse
Dormouse
Dormice are rodents of the family Gliridae. Dormice are mostly found in Europe, although some live in Africa and Asia. They are particularly known for their long periods of hibernation...
Glirulus, which occurs in older deposits in Turkey, first appears in Europe; this genus contains a single living species, the Japanese dormouse
Japanese Dormouse
The Japanese Dormouse is a species of rodent in the Gliridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Glirulus. It is endemic to Japan....
(Glirulus japonicus).
The proboscidea
Proboscidea
Proboscidea is a taxonomic order containing one living family, Elephantidae, and several extinct families. This order was first described by J. Illiger in 1881 and encompasses the trunked mammals...
n genera—members of the group that includes the elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
s—Archaeobelodon
Archaeobelodon
Archaeobelodon is an extinct genus of proboscidea of the family Gomphotheriidae endemic to Europe and Africa during the Miocene from 16.9—16.0 Ma, living for approximately ....
and Prodeinotherium
Prodeinotherium
Prodeinotherium is an early representative of the family Deinotheriidae, that lived in Africa, Europe, and Asia in the early and middle Miocene. It was the size of a small elephant, about 9 feet at the shoulders, but differed from elephants in possessing a pair of downward curving tusks on the...
first appear in Europe. The rhinoceros Diaceratherium last appears in MN 4 and five other rhinoceros genera, Plesiaceratherium, Brachypotherium, Lartetotherium, Gaindatherium, and Hispanotherium
Hispanotherium
Hispanotherium was a genus of rhinoceros of the tribe Elasmotheriini endemic to Europe and Asia during the Miocene living from 16—7.25 mya existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
, make their first appearance. Phyllotillon, a member of the related extinct family Chalicotheriidae, migrates into Europe during MN 4. Several artiodactyls, such as the pig Bunolistriodon, the tragulid Dorcatherium, the deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
-like Lagomeryx, the bovid
Bovid
A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed ruminant mammal at least the males of which bear characteristic unbranching horns covered in a permanent sheath of keratin....
-like Amphimoschus, and the first true bovid of Europe, Eotragus
Eotragus
Eotragus is an early bovid from Europe, Africa, and Asia during the Miocene some 20-18 million years ago. It is related to the modern Nilgai and Four-horned Antelope. It was small and probably lived in woodland environments.-External links:**...
, first occur during MN 4. The last occurrence of the primitive ruminant
Ruminant
A ruminant is a mammal of the order Artiodactyla that digests plant-based food by initially softening it within the animal's first compartment of the stomach, principally through bacterial actions, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as cud, and chewing it again...
Amphitragulus also falls in this zone. The immigrant African creodont Hyainailouros occurs in Europe during MN 4. Among carnivora
Carnivora
The diverse order Carnivora |Latin]] carō "flesh", + vorāre "to devour") includes over 260 species of placental mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word "carnivore" can refer to any meat-eating animal...
ns, the first occurrences of the mustelid
Mustelidae
Mustelidae , commonly referred to as the weasel family, are a family of carnivorous mammals. Mustelids are diverse and the largest family in the order Carnivora, at least partly because in the past it has been a catch-all category for many early or poorly differentiated taxa...
Leptoplesictis and the saber-toothed Prosansanosmilus
Prosansanosmilus
Prosansanosmilus is an extinct genus of mammalian carnivores of the suborder Feliformia, family Barbourofelidae, which lived in Europe during the Miocene epoch , existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
fall in MN 4.
Literature cited
- Mein, P. 1999. European Miocene mammal biochronology. Pp. 25–38 in Rössner, G.E. and Heissig, K. (eds.). The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe. Munich: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, 515 pp.
- Steininger, F. 1999. Chronostratigraphy, geochronology and biochronology of the Miocene "European Land Mammal Mega-Zones (ELMMZ)" and the Miocene "Mammal Zones (MN-Zones)". Pp. 9–24 in Rössner, G.E. and Heissig, K. (eds.). The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe. Munich: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, 515 pp.