Astaracian

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The Astaracian age is a period of

European Land Mammal Ages. It precedes the Vallesian age and follows the Orleanian age. The Astaracian overlaps the Langhian and Serravallian ages.[1]

During the Late Orleanian and Astaracian (17 to 10.7 Ma), oscillating sea levels resulted in a succession of palaeogeographic changes in the Eastern

Mediterranean; the opening and closing of the Tethys seaway resulted in temporary land-bridges between Africa and Eurasia. Three short periods of faunal migrations between the continents can be distinguished:[2]

During the Late Orleanian,

ctenodactylid Sayimys as well as an immigrant from Asia, the proboscidean Choerolophodon known from the Bugti fauna (MN 3, 18.3 Ma) in India. Primates also arrived during MN5: Pliopithecus is known from Elgg in Switzerland and Pontlevoy-Thenay in France and prevailed until the end of the Vallesian.[2]

  • Choerolophodon molar
    Choerolophodon molar
  • Pliopithecus antiquus
    Pliopithecus antiquus

A second wave from Africa in the Early Astaracian, MN 6 (15 to 13.5 Ma), included the hominoid

cervid Dicrocerus, and the suid Listriodon. Asian bovids such as Protragocerus, Tethytragus, and Hypsodontus known from Asia Minor and Chios during MN 5 migrated into Africa as part of this wave.[2]

  • Kenyapithecus
    Kenyapithecus
  • Dicrocerus elegans
    Dicrocerus elegans
  • Protragocerus labidotus
    Protragocerus labidotus

A third wave during MN 7/8 (13.5 to 10.7 Ma) probably took place, but the late Astaracian is poorly documented. A seaway most likely joined the Paratethys and the Mediterranean, preventing migrations. The hominoid Dryopithecus appeared in Europe 12.5 Ma together with the Asian suid Propotamochoerus. The rodent genus Cricetulodon is known from Western and Central Europe from MN 3 and from the end of MN 7/8 in Turkey and Greece.[2]

  • Dryopithecus fontani mandible
    Dryopithecus fontani mandible
  • Propotamochoerus giganteus
    Propotamochoerus giganteus

References

  1. ^ Paleo Database: Astaracian
  2. ^
    OCLC 716880430. Retrieved 19 November 2012.[permanent dead link
    ]


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