The European Land Mammal Mega Zones (abbreviation: ELMMZ, formerly known as European Land Mammal Ages or ELMA) are zones in rock layers that have a specific assemblage of fossils (biozone

Biozone

Biostratigraphic units or Biozones are intervals of geological strata that are defined on the basis of their characteristic fossil taxa....

s) based on occurrences of fossil assemblages of Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

an land mammal

Mammal

Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...

s. These biozones cover most of the Neogene

Neogene

The Neogene is a geologic period and system in the International Commission on Stratigraphy Geologic Timescale starting 23.03 ± 0.05 million years ago and ending 2.588 million years ago...

 and Paleogene

Paleogene

The Paleogene is a geologic period and system that began 65.5 ± 0.3 and ended 23.03 ± 0.05 million years ago and comprises the first part of the Cenozoic Era...

 systems (i.e. rock layers which are 65.5 to 2.588 million years old). In cases when fossils of mammals are abundant, stratigraphers

Stratigraphy

Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....

 and paleontologists

Paleontology

Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...

 can use these biozones as a more practical regional alternative to the stages of the official ICS

International Commission on Stratigraphy

The International Commission on Stratigraphy , sometimes referred to by the unofficial "International Stratigraphic Commission" is a daughter or major subcommittee grade scientific daughter organization that concerns itself with stratigraphy, geological, and geochronological matters on a global...

 geologic timescale. European Land Mammal Mega Zones are often also confusingly referred to as ages, stages, or intervals.

Biostratigraphic methods

Mammal zones were, like all biozones, established using geographic place names where fossil

Fossil

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...

 materials where obtained. The basic unit of measure is the first/last boundary statement. This shows that the first appearance event of one taxon

Taxon

|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...

 is known to predate the last appearance event of another. If two taxa are found in the same fossil quarry

Quarry

A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...

 or at the same stratigraphic horizon, then their age-range zones overlap.

The terrestrial stratigraphy of the Cenozoic

Cenozoic

The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...

 is more difficult than that of marine deposits. The geologic timescale of the ICS is therefore based on marine fossils, that don't occur in terrestrial sediments. This makes the correlation of terrestrial deposits with the ICS timescale often difficult. Correlation is possible when marine deposits interfinger with terrestrial deposits (resulting from a series of transgression

Transgression

Transgression may be:*a Biblical transgression, violation of God's ten commandments; sin *a legal transgression, a crime usually created by a social or economic boundary*a social transgression, violating a norm...

s and regression

Marine regression

Marine regression is a geological process occurring when areas of submerged seafloor are exposed above the sea level. The opposite event, marine transgression, occurs when flooding from the sea covers previously exposed land....

s of the sea during deposition), but this isn't the case everywhere. A fine stratigraphic division of the terrestrial record can in most places only be made using fossils of land species. Small mammals are often the best choice as they are quite abundant in the terrestrial record, especially their teeth. Teeth have an even better change of preservation than bones.

The European mammalian biozones were established for the Paleogene (8 zones) and Neogene (7 zones) separately. Some of these, especially for the Neogene, were already established in the 19th century. The Villafranchian was, for example, introduced by Lorenzo Pareto in 1865. A finer subdivision was established by Pierre Mein in 1975, who divided the Neogene in 17 zones, indicated by the letters MN (Mammal Neogene) and a number.

Similarly, a more detailed subdivision for the Paleogene period was established. There are 30 such Mammal Paleogene zone

Mammal Paleogene zone

The Mammal Paleogene zones or MP zones are biostratigraphic zones in the stratigraphic record of the Paleogene period of Europe. These zones were developed by Matthijs Freudenthal to help paleontologists provide more specific reference points to evolutionary events in Europe, but are used by...

s (MP1 to MP30, numbered from old to young).

Neogene European mammal zones

European Land Mammal Mega Zones most often have their bases at first appearances (FAD, First Appearance Date) of a certain species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 or genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

. The numbers are higher for younger zones. Due to a redefinition of the boundary between the Neogene and Quaternary

Quaternary

The Quaternary Period is the most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the ICS. It follows the Neogene Period, spanning 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present...

 periods, MN 17 is now in fact considered a Quaternary biozone.

Biozone	Small mammals	Large mammals
MN 17	Kislangia gusi, Mimomys tornensis, Mimomys pliocaenicus, Mimomys reidi	Eucladoceros Eucladoceros Eucladoceros or bush-antlered deer is an extinct genus of deer whose fossils have been discovered in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia.-Description:...
MN 16	Kislangia ischus, Mimomys polonicus, Kislangia cappettai, Mimomys hajnackensis	Equus (horse) Horse The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today... , Mammuthus (mammoth), Homotherium Homotherium Homotherium is an extinct genus of machairodontine saber-toothed cats, often termed scimitar cats, endemic to North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs , existing for approximately .It first became extinct in Africa some 1.5 million years ago... , Megantereon Megantereon Megantereon was an ancient machairodontine saber-toothed cat that lived in North America, Eurasia, and Africa. It may be the ancestor of Smilodon.- Fossil range :... , Ursus etruscus, Pliohyaena perrieri, Gazellospira torticornis, Arvernoceros ardei, Hesperidoceras merlai, Cervus perrieri Cervus Cervus is a genus of deer that primarily are native to Eurasia, although one species occurs in northern Africa and another in North America. In addition to the species presently placed in this genus, it has included a whole range of other species now commonly placed in other genera, but some of...
MN 15	Mimomys occitanus, Oryctolagus, Mimomys vandemeuleni, Mimomys davakosi	Chasmaportetes lunensis
MN 14	Promimomys, Trilophomys, Celadensia, Castor (beaver) Beaver The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...	Sus arvernensis, Croizetoceros, Acinonyx Acinonyx Acinonyx is a genus of mammals from the family Felidae. It is currently distributed in Africa and Asia, but at one time was also present in Europe. The cheetah is the only extant species in the genus. Wozencraft put the genus Acinonyx in their own monophyletic subfamily, Acinonychinae. Salles ,... , Felis issiodorensis
MN 13	Paraethomys, Rhagapodemnus, Stephanomys, Apodemus Apodemus Apodemus is the genus of Muridae which contains the Eurasian field mice. Related to the Ryūkyū spiny rats and the prehistoric Rhagamys – and far more distantly to Mus and Malacomys –, it includes the following species:*Striped Field Mouse, Apodemus agrarius*Alpine Field Mouse, Apodemus... , Apocricetus	Parabos, Paracamelus Paracamelus Paracamelus is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore the family Camelidae, endemic to Africa, Europe, and Asia from the Pliocene through Pleistocene 5.33 mya—781,000 years ago existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:... , Agriotheirum, Apocricetus, Nyctereutes Nyctereutes Nyctereutes is an east Asian genus of the family Canidae, consisting of just one living species, the Raccoon Dog. Nyctereutes appeared about 9.0 Ma, with all but one species becoming extinct before the Pleistocene.-Taxonomy:... , Hexaprotodon
MN 12	Parapodemus barbarae, Huerzelerimys turoliensis	Pliocervus, Hispanodorcas, Palaeoryx, Occitanomys adroveri, Procapreolus
MN 11	Parapodemus lugdunensis, Huerzelerimys vireti, Occitanomys sondaari	Birgerbohlinia Birgerbohlinia Birgerbohlinia is an extinct genus of giraffidae. It was first named by Crusafont Pairó and Villalta in 1951.-External links:* at the Paleobiology Database... , Lucentia
MN 10	Rotundomys, Pliopetaurista, Schreuderia, Progonomys cathalai	Hyaenictis almerai, Adcrocuta eximia, Microstonyx major, Tragoportax gaufryi
MN 9	Cricetulodon Cricetulodon Cricetulodon is an extinct genus of muroid rodent named in 1965. It lived from the Middle Aragonian to the late Turolian. It is sometimes classified with its close relatives in the Cricetodon-Ruscinomys group, which lived in total for 17 million years from to approximately...	Hippotherium Hippotherium Hippotherium is an extinct genus of horse endemic to North America, to Asia, Europe, and Africa during the Miocene through Pliocene ~13.65—3.3 Mya, existing for .- Taxonomy :... , Decennatherium Decennatherium Decennatherium is an extinct genus of giraffidae. It was first named by Crusafont Pairo in 1952.-External links:* at the Paleobiology Database... , Machairodus Machairodus Machairodus was a genus of large machairodontine saber-toothed cats that lived in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America during the Miocene through Pleistocene living from 11.6mya—126,000 years ago, existing for approximately .-Species:...
MN 7/8	Megacricetodon ibericus, Megacricetodon gregarius	Parachleuastochoerus, Propotamochoerus, Palaeotragus Palaeotragus Palaeotragus was a genus of very large, primitive okapi from the Miocene of Africa, Asia, and Europe.Palaeotragus primaevus is the older species, being found in early to mid-Miocene strata, while Palaeotragus germaini is found in Late Miocene strata.P. primaevus is distinguished from P. germaini... , Protragocerus, Tetralophodon Tetralophodon Tetralophodon is an extinct gomphothere genus . Like typical gomphotheres, Tetralophodon had four tusks and a trunk. This genus of animals stood about ten feet tall and was a very widespread and successful proboscidean. Tetralophodon lived through the Miocene and Pliocene epoches...
MN 6	Megacricetodon crusafonti, Megacricetodon gersi	Tethytragus, Hispanomeryx, Euprox, Listriodon
MN 5	Megacricetodon collongensis	Miotragocerus, Micromeryx Micromeryx Micromeryx is an extinct genus of moschid.... , Heteroprox Heteroprox Heteroprox is an extinct genus of cervid from the Miocene of Europe.- Sources :* Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids by Jordi Agusti and Mauricio Anton... , Hispanotherium Hispanotherium Hispanotherium was a genus of rhinoceros of the tribe Elasmotheriini endemic to Europe and Asia during the Miocene living from 16—7.25 mya existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
MN 4	Megacricetodon primitivus	Bunolistriodon, Dorcatherium, Chalicotherium Chalicotherium Chalicotherium is a genus of extinct browsing odd-toed ungulates of the order Perissodactyla and family Chalicotheriidae, found in Europe, Africa, and Asia during the Late Oligocene to Lower Pliocene, living from 16—7.75 mya, existing for approximately .This animal... , Eotragus Eotragus Eotragus is an early bovid from Europe, Africa, and Asia during the Miocene some 20-18 million years ago. It is related to the modern Nilgai and Four-horned Antelope. It was small and probably lived in woodland environments.-External links:**... , Prodeinotherium Prodeinotherium Prodeinotherium is an early representative of the family Deinotheriidae, that lived in Africa, Europe, and Asia in the early and middle Miocene. It was the size of a small elephant, about 9 feet at the shoulders, but differed from elephants in possessing a pair of downward curving tusks on the...
MN 3		Gomphotherium Gomphotherium Gomphotherium is an extinct genus of proboscid which evolved in the Early Miocene of North America from 13.650—3.6 Ma, living about .The genus emigrated into Asia, Europe and Africa after a drop in sea level allowed them to cross over... , Procervulus, Lagomeryx, Actoocemas, Palaeomeryx Palaeomeryx Palaeomeryx is an extinct genus of Artiodactyla, of the family Palaeomerycidae, endemic to Europe and Asia from the Miocene epoch, 16.9—7.25 Ma, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:... , Brachyodus, Anchitherium Anchitherium Anchitherium was a fossil horse with a three-toed hoof.Anchitherium was a browsing horse that originated in the early Miocene of North America and subsequently dispersed to Europe and Asia, where it gave rise to the larger bodied genus Sinohippus... , Aureliachoerus, Hemicyon Hemicyon Hemicyon the so-called "dog-bear," literally "Half Dog" , is an extinct genus of the family Hemicyonidae, which probably originated in Eurasia but was found in Europe, Asia and North America during the Miocene epoch , existing for approximately .-Morphology:Hemicyon was about long, and tall, with...
MN 2	Ligerimys, Prolagus Prolagus Prolagidae is an extinct family within the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae . One genus, Prolagus, is recognised within the family. This family as Prolaginae was previously considered a subfamily of Ochotonidae. Prolagus first appeared in the Early Miocene in Europe, where it... , Lagopsis, Ritterneria manca	Teruelia, Lorancameryx, Oriomeryx Oriomeryx Oriomeryx is an extinct genus of Artiodactyla, of the family Moschidae , endemic to Europe from the early Miocene epoch, 22.4—20.0 Ma, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:... , Pseudaelurus Pseudaelurus Pseudaelurus is a prehistoric cat that lived in Europe, Asia and North America in the Miocene approximately 20-8 million years ago. It is an ancestor of today's felines and pantherines as well as the extinct machairodont saber-tooths, and is a successor to Proailurus... , Xenohyus, Andegameryx Andegameryx Andegameryx is an extinct genus belonging to the family Hypertragulidae, within the order Artiodactyla, endemic to Europe during the Miocene, living 22.4—20 Ma, existing for approximately .... , Amphitragulus
MN 1	Rhodanomys schlosseri, Vasseuromys	Hyotherium

Other continental mammalian biozones

• Asian Land Mammal Age
• North American Land Mammal Age
• South American Land Mammal Age
  South American Land Mammal Age
  The South American Mammal Ages establish a geologic timescale for prehistoric South American fauna beginning 64.5 Ma during the Paleogene and continuing through to the Middle Pleistocene...
  
  

Literature

; 2005: Neogene/Quaternary mammalian migrations in Eastern Mediterranean, Belgian Journal of Zoology, 135(2): pp. 181-190.; 1997: Eurasian mammal biochronology: an overview, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 133: pp. 117-128, ISSN 0031-0182.: 1975: Report on activity RCMNS-Working groups, 1971–1975, p. 78–81, Bratislava.

• Rose, Kenneth David, The Beginning of the Age of Mammals, JHU Press, 2006, 428 pages.; 1999: Chronostratigraphy, Geochronology and Biochronology of the Miocene "European Land Mammal Mega-Zones" (ELMMZ) and the Miocene "Mammal Zones (MN-Zones)", in: (eds.): The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe, pp. 9-24, Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, ISBN 3-931516-50-4.

External links

• Stratigraphic charts at http://stratigraphy.science.purdue.edu