NEW DATA FROM BACCINELLO V0 (GROSSETO, TUSCANY), THE OLDEST ASSEMBLAGE OF THE ENDEMIC TUSCO-SARDINIAN LATE MIOCENE VERTEBRATE FAUNA.

The Late Miocene endemic vertebrate assemblage of Baccinello V0 is the oldest vertebrate fauna within the Baccinello-Cinigiano basin succession in southern Tuscany (Benvenuti et al., 2001; Rook et al, 2011). The BC Basin is celebrated for recording vertebrate assemblages that yielded the youngest European Miocene Hominoid, Oreopithecus bambolii (Casanovas Villar et al., 2011). The faunal assemblages are known and described since 1960’s (de Terra, 1954; Lorenz,1968; Hurzeler & Engesser, 1976). The so-called V0 assemblage, mainly made up by small mammals, was discovered by researchers of the Basel Naturhistorisches Museum and partially described by Engesser (1989), who described the murid remains. According to the latter author the Bacciello V0 faunal list includes: Huerzelerimys vireti, Anthracoglis marinoi, Paludotona sp., Chiroptera indet., Soricidae indet., and Tyrrhenotragus sp. A reconnaissance along the Trasubbie river by the authors was made in June-July 2013 within the framework of a project aiming to acquire a better knowledge of the geology of the BC Basin and the vertebrate fossil record of the Late Miocene of southern Tuscany. The exposure conditions allowed us to investigate the sedimentary succession outcropping along the small creek Fosso della Fittaia and to individuate the V0 fossiliferous level that was intensely sampled for screen washing. The sample yielded a number of fossil remains that will allow improving our documentation of the Baccinello V0 assemblage. In addition to the already recognized Huerzelerimys vireti, and Anthracoglis marinoi, a few dental remains permit identifying the occurrence of a giant dormouse (possibly Gliridae nov. gen. et nov. sp. from Baccinello V1 described by Engesser in 1983). Worth noting the occurrence in the new sample of two mandibles of Soricidae indet., as well as of several elements of the Herpetofauna (Anura indet., Lacertidae indet., Anguidae indet., Serpentes indet., Testudinae indet)