A balaenopterid skeleton from the early Pliocene of Montalcino was found in 2007 and prepared in 2016-2019. After its complete preparation, a preliminary investigation about its taphonomy was performed that resulted in the reconstruction of the map of the bone dispersion, an analysis of fracture types, part of the associated fauna and a new stratigraphic study to constrain the age of the specimen. This Zanclean whale is represented by an associated skeleton (about 50% complete) that is completely disarticulated. Bones are scattered and removed from the original axis of the whale with the exception of part of the cervical vertebrae and the transition between lumbar and caudal vertebrae. The bones show load fractures and a limited number of impact fractures suggesting that the environment where the decay occurred was characterized by high energy water flow. Presence of fully grown balanid barnacles on some of the bones suggests that the carcass remained over the seafloor for c. 1 year before being buried. Application of biostratinomic procedures allowed the reconstruction of part of the taphonomic history of the specimen.

Santagati, P., Scotton, R., Foresi, L.M., Tartarelli, G., Nannini, P., Tabolli, J., et al. (2021). Taphonomy of an Early Pliocene Balenopterid whale from Southern Tuscany: a preliminary investigation. In Paleodays 2021. Volume dei riassunti del XXI Convegno della Società Paleontologica Italiana (pp.76-76).

Taphonomy of an Early Pliocene Balenopterid whale from Southern Tuscany: a preliminary investigation

Foresi, Luca Maria
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Tarantini, Massimo;
2021-01-01

Abstract

A balaenopterid skeleton from the early Pliocene of Montalcino was found in 2007 and prepared in 2016-2019. After its complete preparation, a preliminary investigation about its taphonomy was performed that resulted in the reconstruction of the map of the bone dispersion, an analysis of fracture types, part of the associated fauna and a new stratigraphic study to constrain the age of the specimen. This Zanclean whale is represented by an associated skeleton (about 50% complete) that is completely disarticulated. Bones are scattered and removed from the original axis of the whale with the exception of part of the cervical vertebrae and the transition between lumbar and caudal vertebrae. The bones show load fractures and a limited number of impact fractures suggesting that the environment where the decay occurred was characterized by high energy water flow. Presence of fully grown balanid barnacles on some of the bones suggests that the carcass remained over the seafloor for c. 1 year before being buried. Application of biostratinomic procedures allowed the reconstruction of part of the taphonomic history of the specimen.
2021
Santagati, P., Scotton, R., Foresi, L.M., Tartarelli, G., Nannini, P., Tabolli, J., et al. (2021). Taphonomy of an Early Pliocene Balenopterid whale from Southern Tuscany: a preliminary investigation. In Paleodays 2021. Volume dei riassunti del XXI Convegno della Società Paleontologica Italiana (pp.76-76).
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Paleodays 2021 Brunella.pdf

non disponibili

Descrizione: Abstract stampato
Tipologia: Post-print
Licenza: NON PUBBLICO - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione 870.21 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
870.21 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11365/1147168