MN 5 (biostratigraphic zone)
Encyclopedia
In biostratigraphy
, MN 5 is one of the MN zones
used to characterize the fossil mammal faunas of the Neogene
of Europe. It is preceded by MN 4 and followed by MN 6 and is part of the Orleanian
age of the middle Miocene
. MN 5 starts within magnetostratigraphic
chron C5Cr, at 17.0 million years ago, and ends at the start of chron C5Bn.1r, at 15.0 million years ago, although some different correlations have been proposed. The reference locality used to correlate faunas with this zone is Pontlevoy-Thenay in France; other localities include La Retama in Spain, Castelnau-d'Arbieu
in France, and Sandelzhausen in Germany.
In this zone, the muroid
rodent Cricetodon first appears in western Europe, as do the poorly known Lartetomys and Mixocricetodon. In the extinct rodent family Eomyidae
, the genus Ligerimys last appears during MN 5, but Keramidomys and Eomyops appear as immigrants. The last European marsupial
, Amphiperatherium, last appears in France and Spain during MN 5, but persists into MN 6 in Germany.
The primate Pliopithecus
first appears during MN 5. The rhinoceroses Prosantorhinus
, Plesiaceratherium, Hispanotherium
, and Gaindatherium make their last appearance, but Ancylotherium
and Hoploaceratherium first appear during MN 5. Chalicotherium
, a member of the related extinct family Chalicotheriidae, also appears for the first time. Several artiodactyls, such as the pig Conohyus, the deer Heteroprox
and Dicrocerus
, and the musk deer Micromeryx
first appear, and the pigs Bunolistriodon and Aureliachoerus and the ruminant
s Amphimoschus and Lagomeryx last appear in MN 5. Two artiodactyl genera, Triceromeryx
and Pseudoeotragus, occur only during MN 5. The primitive artiodactyl Cainotherium
last appears in France and Spain, but persists into MN 6 in Germany.
Biostratigraphy
Biostratigraphy is the branch of stratigraphy which focuses on correlating and assigning relative ages of rock strata by using the fossil assemblages contained within them. Usually the aim is correlation, demonstrating that a particular horizon in one geological section represents the same period...
, MN 5 is one of the MN zones
MN zonation
The MN zonation is a system used to correlate mammal-bearing fossil localities in the Miocene and Pliocene of Europe. It consists of sixteen consecutive zones defined through reference faunas, well-known sites that other localities can be correlated with.The zones are as follows:*MN 1*MN 2*MN 3*MN...
used to characterize the fossil mammal faunas 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...
of Europe. It is preceded by MN 4 and followed by MN 6 and is part of the Orleanian
Orleanian
The Orleanian age is a period of geologic time , within the Miocene and used more specifically with European Land Mammal Ages. It precedes the Astaracian age and follows the Agenian age....
age of the middle Miocene
Middle Miocene
The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene....
. MN 5 starts within magnetostratigraphic
Magnetostratigraphy
Magnetostratigraphy is a geophysical correlation technique used to date sedimentary and volcanic sequences. The method works by collecting oriented samples at measured intervals throughout the section. The samples are analyzed to determine their characteristic remanent magnetization , that is, the...
chron C5Cr, at 17.0 million years ago, and ends at the start of chron C5Bn.1r, at 15.0 million years ago, although some different correlations have been proposed. The reference locality used to correlate faunas with this zone is Pontlevoy-Thenay in France; other localities include La Retama in Spain, Castelnau-d'Arbieu
Castelnau-d'Arbieu
Castelnau-d'Arbieu is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
in France, and Sandelzhausen in Germany.
In this zone, the muroid
Muroidea
Muroidea is a large superfamily of rodents. It includes hamsters, gerbils, true mice and rats, and many other relatives. They occupy a vast variety of habitats on every continent except Antarctica. Some authorities have placed all members of this group into a single family, Muridae, due to...
rodent Cricetodon first appears in western Europe, as do the poorly known Lartetomys and Mixocricetodon. In the extinct rodent family Eomyidae
Eomyidae
Eomyidae is a family of extinct rodents from North America and Eurasia related to modern day pocket gophers and kangaroo rats. The family includes the earliest known gliding rodent, Eomys -References:...
, the genus Ligerimys last appears during MN 5, but Keramidomys and Eomyops appear as immigrants. The last European marsupial
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
, Amphiperatherium, last appears in France and Spain during MN 5, but persists into MN 6 in Germany.
The primate Pliopithecus
Pliopithecus
Pliopithecus is a genus of extinct primates of the Miocene and Pliocene. It was discovered in 1837 by Édouard Lartet in France, with fossils subsequently discovered in Switzerland and Spain....
first appears during MN 5. The rhinoceroses Prosantorhinus
Prosantorhinus
Prosantorhinus is an extinct genus of rhinoceros from the lower and middle Miocene. The small teleoceratine rhinocerotid was found in western Europe and Asia. This group of creatures was a bit Hippopotamus like in form....
, Plesiaceratherium, 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:...
, and Gaindatherium make their last appearance, but Ancylotherium
Ancylotherium
Ancylotherium is an extinct genus of the family Chalicotheriidae, subfamily Schizotheriinae, endemic to Europe, Asia, and Africa during the Late Miocene-Pliocene , existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
and Hoploaceratherium first appear during MN 5. 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...
, a member of the related extinct family Chalicotheriidae, also appears for the first time. Several artiodactyls, such as the pig Conohyus, the deer 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...
and Dicrocerus
Dicrocerus
Dicrocerus elegans is an extinct species of deer found in France, Europe . Dicrocerus probably came from Asia, from the region where true deer is believed to have originated and evolved. It inhabited forests in the temperate belt and in Europe it was typical of the Miocene...
, and the musk deer Micromeryx
Micromeryx
Micromeryx is an extinct genus of moschid....
first appear, and the pigs Bunolistriodon and Aureliachoerus and the ruminant
Ruminant
A ruminant is a mammal of the order Artiodactyla that digests plant-based food by initially softening it within the animal's first compartment of the stomach, principally through bacterial actions, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as cud, and chewing it again...
s Amphimoschus and Lagomeryx last appear in MN 5. Two artiodactyl genera, Triceromeryx
Triceromeryx
Triceromeryx is an extinct genus of Artiodactyla, of the family Palaeomerycidae, endemic to Europe from the early Miocene epoch, 22.4—20.0 Ma, existing for approximately .It was similar to Ampelomeryx, a herbivore.-Taxonomy:...
and Pseudoeotragus, occur only during MN 5. The primitive artiodactyl Cainotherium
Cainotherium
Cainotherium commune is an extinct rabbit-sized herbivore that lived in Europe during the Oligocene. It is believed that the 30 cm long Cainotherium was an even-toed ungulate, usually placed in the suborder Tylopoda, along with modern camelids...
last appears in France and Spain, but persists into MN 6 in Germany.
Literature cited
- Mein, P. 1999. European Miocene mammal biochronology. Pp. 25–38 in Rössner, G.E. and Heissig, K. (eds.). The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe. Munich: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, 515 pp.
- Steininger, F. 1999. Chronostratigraphy, geochronology and biochronology of the Miocene "European Land Mammal Mega-Zones (ELMMZ)" and the Miocene "Mammal Zones (MN-Zones)". Pp. 9–24 in Rössner, G.E. and Heissig, K. (eds.). The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe. Munich: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, 515 pp.