NEW SPECIES OF HIPPARION FROM LA ROMA 2 (LATE VALLESIAN; TERUEL, SPAIN): A STUDY OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOMETRIC VARIABILITY OF HIPPARION PRIMIGENIUM

ABSTRACT—Morphological and biometrical variability is analyzed in Hipparion primigenium (V. Meyer) from four Vallesian and Turolian locations in Spain (Ması́a de Barbo, Puente Minero, Nombrevilla, and Los Valles de Fuentidueña). Previously unstudied remains of Hipparion from La Roma 2 (Teruel Province, Spain) are described and tested by multivariate analysis. This form is compared with: 1) Hipparion primigenium (or Hippotherium primigenium) from the above-mentioned Spanish localities; 2) large-sized specimens from Çalta (Turkey) and Pavlodar (Kazakhstan); 3) forms from the locality type of Eppelsheim, Höwenegg, and Dürkheim (Germany), and Nikiti 1 (Greek); and 4) specimens from two other Spanish localities, Concud and Venta del Moro. Hipparion remains from La Roma 2 are identified as Hipparion laromae n. sp. by body mass and morphological characteristics, and confirmed by bivariate and multivariate analyses. The faunal assemblages indicate a late Vallesian age (MN10) for La Roma 2 locality and an early Turolian age (MN11) for the Puente Minero locality