Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Early Miocene micromammals from the Lesvos Petrified Forest (Greece): preliminary results

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new locality with terrestrial microfossils, named Lapsarna (LRN), has been found on the West Peninsula of the island of Lesvos (Greece). Among other fossils (i.e. lacustrine pulmonate gastropod, lacustrine fish, small lizard and crocodilian isolated remains), isolated teeth of small mammals, belonging to the Orders Chiroptera, Insectivora and Rodentia, have been found. The rodent material allows the identification of one species of Eumyarion, one species of Democricetodon and the glirid Glirulus cf. diremptus, whereas the bat and insectivore material is too scanty to allow generic identification. Radiochronological data suggest that the new locality is older than 18.4 ± 0.5 Ma. This makes Lapsarna one of the oldest small mammal localities in Greece so far known. The study of the new fossils can lead to a preliminary basis for the reconstruction of life in the subtropical forests that covered the area during the early Miocene.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abe H, Ishii N, Ito T, Kaneko Y, Maeda K, Miura S, Yoneda M (2005) A Guide to the Mammals of Japan. Tokai University Press, Kanagawa, Japan

    Google Scholar 

  • Agusti J, Cabrera L, Garces M, Krijgsman W, Oms O, Pares J M (2001) A calibrated mammal scale for the Neogene of Western Europe. State of the art. Earth-Sci Rev 52:247–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Böhme M (2003) Miocene Climatic Optimum: evidence from Lower Vertebrates of Central Europe. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 195(3–4):389–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boon E (1991) Die Cricetiden und Sciuriden der Oberen Süßwassermolasse von Bayerisch-Schwaben und ihre stratigraphische Bedeutung. PhD Dissertation, München

  • Casanovas-Vilar I, Angelone C, Alba DM, Moyà-Solà S, Köhler M, Galindo J (2010) Rodents and lagomorphs from the Middle Miocene hominoid-bearing site of Barranc de Can Vila 1 (els Hostalets de Pierola, Catalonia, Spain). N Jb Geol Paläont, Abh 257:297–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daxner-Höck G (1998) Säugetiere (Mammalia) aus dem Karpat des Korneuburger Beckens. 3. Rodentia und Carnivora. Beitr Paläontol 23:367–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Daxner-Höck G (2003) Cricetodon meini and other rodents from Mόhlbach and Grund, Lower Austria (Middle Miocene, late MN5). Ann Nat Hist Mus Wien 104A:267–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Daxner-Höck G, Höck E (2009) New data on Eomyidae and Gliridae (Rodentia, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Austria. Ann Nat Hist Mus Wien 111A: 375–444

    Google Scholar 

  • de Bruijn H (1966) Some new Miocene Gliridae (Rodentia, Mammalia) from the Calatayud area (Prov. Zaragoza, Spain). I. Proc K Ned Akad Wet B 69/1:1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • de Bruijn H (1998) Vertebrates from the Early Miocene lignite deposits of the opencast mine Oberdorf (Western Styrian Basin, Austria): 6. Rodentia 1 (Mammalia). Ann Nat Hist Mus Wien 99 A:99–137

    Google Scholar 

  • de Bruijn H (2009) The Eumyarion (Mammalia, Rodentia, Muridae) assemblage from Sandelzhausen (Miocene, Southern Germany): a test on homogeneity. Paläontol Z 83(1):77–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Bruijn H, Saraç G (1991) Early Miocene faunas from the eastern Mediterranean area. Part I The genus Eumyarion. Proc K Ned Akad Wet 94/1:1–36

    Google Scholar 

  • de Bruijn H, Ünay E, van den Hoek Ostende L, Sarac G (1992) A new association of small mammals from the Lowermost Lower Miocene of Central Anatolia. Geobios 25(5):651–670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Bruijn H, van den Hoek Ostende LW, Kristkoiz-Boon E, Rummel M, Theocharopoulos C, Ünay E (2003) Rodent, lagomorphs and insectivores, from the middle Miocene hominoid locality of Çandir (Turkey). Cour Forsch-Inst Senckenberg 240:51–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Doukas CS (1983) Insectivores (Insectivora, Mammalia) from the Lower Miocene of Aliveri, Evia. PhD Dissertation, University of Athens (in Greek)

  • Doukas CS (1986) The mammals from the Lower Miocene of Aliveri (Island of Evia, Greece). Part 5. The insectivores. Proc K Ned Akad Wet B 89/1:15–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Doukas C S (2003) The MN4 faunas of Aliveri and Karydia (Greece). Coloq Paleontol, vol extra 1:127–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Engesser B (1972) Die obermiozäne Säugetierfauna von Anwil (Baselland). Tätigk ber nat forsch Ges Baselland 28:1–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Engesser B (1980) Insectivora und Chiroptera (Mammalia) aus dem Neogen der Türkei. Schweiz Paläontol Abh 102:37–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahlbusch V (1964) Die Cricetiden (Mammalia) der Oberen Süsswasser-Molasse Bayerns. Bayer Akad Wiss, math - naturw Kl Abh N F 118:1–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahlbusch V (1966) Cricetidae (Rodentia, Mammalia) aus der mittelmiocänen Spaltenfüllung Erkertshofen bei Eichstätt. Mitt Bayer Staatssamml Paläontol Hist Geol 6:109–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Fortelius M (coordinator) (2011) Neogene of the Old World Database of Fossil Mammals (NOW). Univ Helsinki http://www.helsinki.fi/science/now/

  • Freudenthal M (1963) Entwicklungsstufen der Miozänen Cricetodontinae (Mammalia, Rodentia) Mittelspaniens und ihre stratigraphische Bedeutung. Beaufortia 10/119:51–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Freudenthal M (1967) On the mammalian fauna of the Hipparion-beds in the Calatayud-Teruel Basin (prov. Zaragoza, Spain). Part 3: Democricetodon and Rotundomys (Rodentia). Proc K Ned Akad Wet B 70/3:298–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Freudenthal M (2006) The status of Democricetodon, Fahlbuschia, Pseudofahlbuschia and Renzimys (Cricetidae, Mammalia). A reply to van der Meulen et al. (2004). Geobios 39:43–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freudenthal M, Daams R (1988) Cricetidae (Rodentia) from the type-Aragonian; the genera Democricetodon, Fahlbuschia, Pseudofahlbuschia nov. gen, and Renzimys. Scr Geol Special Issue 1:133–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Freudenthal M, Hugueney M, Moissenet E (1994) The genus Pseudocricetodon (Cricetidae, Mammalia) in the Upper Oligocene of the province of Teruel (Spain). Scr Geol 104:57–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Hand S (1985) New Miocene megadermatids (Chiroptera: Megadermatidae) from Australia with comments on megadermatid phylogeny. Aust Mammal 8:5–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Hecht, J., 1971–1974. Geologic Map of Lesvos Island (5 sheets). National Institute of Geological and Mining Research IGME, Athens

  • Hir J (2004) The Middle Miocene (Late Astaracian, MN7-8) rodent fauna of Felsőtárkány 3/2 (Hungary). Acta Palaeontol Rom 4:125–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Katsikatsos, G., Migiros, G., Triantaphyllis, M. and Mettos, A., 1986. Geological structure of the internal Hellines east Thessaly–southwest Macedonia, Euboea–Attica–northern Cyclades islands and Lesvos. Institute of Geological and Mineral Exploration, Geology and Geophysical Research, 191–212, Special Issue

  • Klein Hofmeijer G, de Bruijn H (1988) The Mammals from the Lower Miocene of Aliveri (Island of Evia, Greece) Part 8: The Cricetidae. Proc K Ned Akad Wet B 91/2:185–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Kordos L (1986) Upper Miocene hamsters (Cricetidae, Mammalia) of Hasznos and Szentendre: a taxonomic and stratigraphical study. Magy Áll Földt lntéz Jel az 1979:538–553

    Google Scholar 

  • Koufos GD (2006) The Neogene mammal localities of Greece: faunas, chronology and biostratigraphy. Hell J Geosci 41:183–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Koufos GD, Zouros N, Mourouzidou O (2003) Prodeinotherium bavaricum (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from Lesvos island, Greece; the appearance of deinotheres in the Eastern Mediterranean. Geobios 36:305–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayr H (1979) Gebissmorphologische Untersuchungen an miozänen Gliriden (Mammalia, Rodentia) Süddeutschlands. PhD Dissertation, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, München

  • Mourouzidou O (2001) Tectonics and stratigraphy of the Neogene deposits of Gavathas area, Lesvos. M.Sc. Thesis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (in Greek)

  • Peláez-Campomanes P, Daams R (2002) Middle Miocene rodents from Paşalar, Anatolia, Turkey. Acta Palaeontol Pol 47 (1):125–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Pe-Piper G, Piper DJW (1993) Revised stratigraphy of the Miocene volcanic rocks of Lesbos, Greece. N Jb Geol Paläont, Mh 2:97–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Pe-Piper G, Piper DJW (2002) The igneous rocks of Greece. The anatomy of an orogen. Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Radulescu C, Samson P-M (1988) Les Cricétidés (Rodentia, Mammalia) du Miocene (Astaracien supérieur) de Roumanie. Trav Inst Spéol “Emile Racovitza” 27:67–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Reumer JWF (1984) Ruscinian and early Pleistocene Soricidae (Insectivora, Mammalia) from Tegelen (The Netherlands) and Hungary. Scr Geol 73:1–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Schötz M (1993) Zwei Hamsterfaunen (Rodentia, Mammalia) aus der Niederbayerischen Molasse. Mitt Bayer Staatssamml Paläontol Hist Geol 33:155–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Theocharopoulos C (2000) Late Oligocene–Middle Miocene Democricetodon and Spanocricetodon from Eastern Mediterranean area. PhD Dissertation, University of Athens

  • Ünay E (1994) Early Miocene rodent faunas from the eastern Mediterranean area Part IV. The Gliridae. Proc K Ned Akad Wet 97/4:445–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Ünay E, de Bruijn H, Saraç G (2003) The Oligocene rodent record of Anatolia: a review. In: Reumer JWF, Wessels W (eds) Distribution and migration of Tertiary mammals in Eurasia. Rotterdam: DEINSEA Special Issue, 531–538

  • van den Hoek Ostende LW (1989) The Talpidae (Insectivora, Mammalia) of Eggingen-Mittelhart (Baden-Württemberg, F.R.G.) with special reference to the Paratalpa-Desmanodon lineage. Stuttg Beitr Naturk B 152:1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • van den Hoek Ostende LW (2001) Insectivore faunas from the Lower Miocene of Anatolia. Part 5: Talpidae. Scr Geol 122:1–45

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Meulen AJ, de Bruijn H (1982) The mammals from the Lower Miocene of Aliveri (Island of Evia, Greece). Part 2. The Gliridae. Proc K Ned Akad Wet B 85/4:485–524

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Meulen AJ, Peláez-Campomanes P, Daams R (2004) Revision of medium-sized Cricetidae from the Miocene of the Daroca-Villafeliche area in the Calatayud-Teruel basin (Zaragoza, Spain). Coloq Paleontol, vol extra 1:385–441

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasileiadou K, Koufos GD (2005) The micromammals from the Early/Middle Miocene locality of Antonios, Chalkidiki, Greece. Ann Paléontol 91(3):197–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velitzelos E, Zouros N (1998) New results on the petrified forest of Lesvos. Bull Geol Soc Greece 32 (2):133–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Velitzelos E, Petrescu I, Symeonidis N (1981a) Tertiäre Pflanzenreste von der aegaischen lnsel Lesvos (Griechenland). Cour Forsch-Inst Senckenberg 50:49–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Velitzelos E, Petrescu I, Symeonidis N (1981b) Tertiäre Pflanzenreste aus Agais. Die Makroflora der lnsel Lesvos (Griechenland). Ann géol Pays Hell 30:500–514

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenyu W (1982) Die Cricetiden (Mammalia, Rodentia) aus der Oberen Süsswassermolasse von Puttenhausen (Niederbayern). Zitteliana 9:37–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessels W, de Bruijn H, Hussain ST, Leinders JJM (1982) Fossil rodents from the Chinji Formation, Banda Daud Shah, Kohat, Pakistan. Proc K Ned Akad Wet B 85/3:337–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler R (1985) Talpiden (Mammalia, Insectivora) aus dem Orleanium und Astaracium Bayerns. Mitt Bayer Staatsslg Paläont Hist Geol 25:131–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Zouros N, Velitzelos E, Valiakos E, Ververis K (2004) Submarine petrified forest in Lesvos Greece. Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Eastern Mediterranean Geology, Thessaloniki, April 2004, pp 437–440

  • Zouros N, Velitzelos E, Valiakos I, Labaki O (2007) The Plaka Petrified Forest Park in Western Lesvos - Greece. Proc 11th Int Congr, Athens, May 2007, Bull Geol Soc Greece 40:1880–1891

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The material has been collected and processed with the valuable help of Nikos Salambarchos, Kostas Mammis, Notis Salambarchos, Vaso Charalampi, Eftichia Taktikou, Electra Roditaki, Vasiliki Kekridou, Stefanos Lappas. Dimitris Kostopoulos and Ioanna Sylvestrou allowed us screen-wash in their garden in Thessaloniki, for which they are deeply thanked. We are grateful to Hans de Bruijn and Wilma Wessels (Earth Sciences Dept., UU) for valuable discussions and suggestions, as well as for having provided us with literature and collections. We are indebted to Lamprini Papadopoulou (Geology Dept., AUTH), who, despite all the predicaments, managed to take the SEM images of the teeth. We also want to express our gratitude to George Iliopoulos (Geology Dept., University of Patras), for having accepted the present work in this issue of “Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments” and for his valuable corrections and comments on the manuscript. Furthermore, the Editor-in-Chief, Peter Koenigshof, and the Managing editor, Sinje Weber, are acknowledged for their help and collaboration towards the publication of the manuscript. The first author (K.V.) also thanks Eleftheria Vasileiadou, Gaston and Odysseas Heimeriks for their great hospitality during her stays in the Netherlands. The critical reviews of Hans de Bruijn (Earth Sciences Dept., UU) and Gudrun Daxner-Höck (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) have improved the manuscript greatly; their comments, strict criticism and corrections are truly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, 17 8th November Str., Mytilene, 81100, Lesvos, Greece

    Katerina Vasileiadou & Nickolas Zouros

  2. Geography Department, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, 81100, Lesvos, Greece

    Nickolas Zouros

Authors
  1. Katerina Vasileiadou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nickolas Zouros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katerina Vasileiadou.

Additional information

This article is a contribution to the special issue "Proceedings of the 9th EAVP Meeting, Heraklion 2011"

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vasileiadou, K., Zouros, N. Early Miocene micromammals from the Lesvos Petrified Forest (Greece): preliminary results. Palaeobio Palaeoenv 92, 249–264 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-012-0080-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-012-0080-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation