The latest Miocene small-sized Cervidae from Monticino Quarry (Brisighella, central Italy): paleobiogeographic and biochronological implications

In this paper, we described the unpublished cervid material from the latest Upper Miocene deposits of the Monticino Quarry (Brisighella, central Italy). The material includes a few teeth, some postcranials and a fragment of antler. An isolated fragment of mandible with dp4 is referred to Cervidae indet. (small-size) due to the absence of diagnostic morphological features. Two lower molars characterised by rugose enamel, the absence of <i>Palaeomeryx</i> fold and the presence of mesial cingulid are assigned to <i>Pliocervus</i> sp. A fragment of antler, characterised by ridges and furrows along the beam, which bends towards the lateral side just above the first bifurcation, a brachydont M2 and several small-sized postcranials are instead referred to <i>Procapreolus</i> cf. <i>loczyi</i>. The comparison with other latest Miocene small-sized Cervidae revealed that previous records of <i>Paracervulus</i> in Italy should be regarded as <i>Pliocervus</i> and that some records of <i>Euprox</i> can be instead re-assigned to <i>Procapreolus</i>. Accordingly, the occurrence of both <i>Pliocervus</i> and <i>Procapreolus</i> is indicative of latest Miocene Italian faunas referred to MN13 and suggests biogeographic affinity with Eastern European latest Miocene mammal assemblages.