Sansan (Miocene to of France)

Where: Midi-Pyrenees, France (43.5° N, 0.6° E: paleocoordinates 43.7° N, 0.6° W)

• coordinate based on nearby landmark

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Langhian to Langhian (16.0 - 11.6 Ma)

• member-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: lacustrine - small; unlithified, gray, blue claystone and marl

• The fossils come from different, superposed lithologies. Those include: purple clays, gray clays, marls, but also limestones and molasse. No distinction is made about the exact provenance of the fossils from these various levels.

Size classes: macrofossils, mesofossils

Primary reference: E. Lartet. 1836. [Lettre de E. Lartet a M. Michelin au sujet de la localité de Sansan (Gers), en lecture a la seance du 16 Mai 1836]. Bulletin de la Societe geologique de France 1(7):217-220 [E. Fara/E. Fara/E. Fara]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 32191: authorized by Emmanuel Fara, entered by Emmanuel Fara on 09.06.2003, edited by Susanna Kümmell, Chris Bell, Matthew Carrano, Patricia Holroyd, Evangelos Vlachos, Mark Uhen, Bethany Allen, Terri Cleary and Torsten Liebrecht

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

• The ref. Ginsburg (1964)is an update of previous works (Lartet 1836-1858) and Filhol (1891), but it was published as new excavations were taking place.
Show authors, comments, and common names
unclassified
  -
Miomegaderma gaillardi7, Hemicyonidae indet.7, Schlossericyon viverroides7
Angiospermae
 Rosales - Ulmaceae
Celtis sp.7
Celtis sp.7 Linnaeus 1753 hackberry
Gastropoda
 Heterostropha - Lymnaeidae
Lymnaea aff. stagnalis
 Heterostropha - Planorbidae
Planorbis sp.
Planorbis sp. Muller 1774 snail
  -
Bulimus lubricus
Bulimus lubricus Müller 1774 snail
 Neogastropoda - Olividae
Ancilla sp.
Ancilla sp. Lamarck 1799 olive snail
Mammalia
 Lagomorpha - Ochotonidae
Prolagus oeningensis7
Prolagus oeningensis7 König 1825 pika
 Rodentia - Gliridae
Muscardinus sansaniensis7
Muscardinus sansaniensis7 Lartet 1856 dormouse
 Rodentia - Castoridae
Steneofiber sansaniensis7
 Rodentia - Sciuridae
Sciuropterus sansaniensis7
 Rodentia - Cricetidae
Eumyarion medius8, "Cricetodon cf. breve" = Democricetodon brevis7, "Cricetodon minus" = Democricetodon minor7, Megacricetodon minor5, Cricetodon helveticus7, Cricetodon gaillardi7, Cricetodon cf. affine7, Cricetodon sansaniensis7
Eumyarion medius8 Lartet 1851 mouse
"Cricetodon cf. breve" = Democricetodon brevis7 Schaub 1925 mouse
"Cricetodon minus" = Democricetodon minor7 Lartet 1851 mouse
Megacricetodon minor5 Lartet 1851 mouse
Cricetodon sansaniensis7 Lartet 1851 mouse
 Primates - Pliopithecidae
Pliopithecus antiquus7
Pliopithecus antiquus7 Blainville 1839 monkey
 Carnivora - Amphicyonidae
Amphicyon major7, Pseudarctos bavaricus7, Pseudocyon sansaniensis7
Amphicyon major7 De Blainville 1841 bear-dog
Pseudarctos bavaricus7 Schlosser 1899 bear-dog
Pseudocyon sansaniensis7 Lartet 1851 bear-dog
 Carnivora - Mustelidae
Melidellavus leptorhynchus7, Mionictis dubia7, Ischyrictis zibethoides7, Martes muncki7, Martes sansaniensis7, Taxodon sansaniensis7, Mustelinae indet.7, "Lutra dubia" = Lartetictis dubia9
Melidellavus leptorhynchus7 mustelid carnivore
Mionictis dubia7 de Blainville 1841 otter
Ischyrictis zibethoides7 Blainville 1842 mustelid carnivore
Martes muncki7 marten
Martes sansaniensis7 Lartet 1851 marten
Taxodon sansaniensis7 Lartet 1851 badger
Mustelinae indet.7 Fischer 1817 mustelid carnivore
"Lutra dubia" = Lartetictis dubia9 Blainville 1841 mustelid carnivore
 Carnivora - Ailuridae
Alopecocyon goeriachensis7
Alopecocyon goeriachensis7 Toula 1884 red panda
 Carnivora -
Proputorius sansaniensis7
Proputorius sansaniensis7 Filhol 1891 carnivoran
 Carnivora - Ursidae
Plithocyon armagnacensis7, Hemicyon sansaniensis7
Plithocyon armagnacensis7 Ginsburg 1955 bear
Hemicyon sansaniensis7 Lartet 1851 bear
 Carnivora - Percrocutidae
Pseudailurus quadridentatus7, Pseudailurus lorteti7, Pseudailurus turnauensis7
 Carnivora - Nimravidae
Sansanosmilus palmidens7
Sansanosmilus palmidens7 Blainville 1841 false sabre-tooth
 Carnivora - Viverridae
Semigenetta mutata7
 Artiodactyla - Suidae
Listriodon splendens7
 Artiodactyla -
Taucanamo sansaniense7
Taucanamo sansaniense7 Lartet 1851 even-toed ungulate
 Artiodactyla - Tragulidae
Dorcatherium crassum7
Dorcatherium crassum7 Lartet 1851 chevrotain
 Artiodactyla - Lagomerycidae
Dicrocerus elegans7, Heteroprox larteti7
Dicrocerus elegans7 Lartet 1837 ruminant
Heteroprox larteti7 Filhol 1890 ruminant
 Artiodactyla - Palaeomerycidae
Palaeomeryx bojani7
 Artiodactyla - Bovidae
Eotragus sansaniensis7, Strogulognathus sansaniensis7
Eotragus sansaniensis7 Lartet 1851 antelope
 Artiodactyla - Moschidae
Micromeryx flourensianus7
Micromeryx flourensianus7 Lartet 1851 musk deer
 Perissodactyla - Rhinocerotidae
"Aceratherium tetradactylum" = Hoploaceratherium tetradactylum7, Dicerorhinus sansaniensis7, Brachypotherium brachypus7
"Aceratherium tetradactylum" = Hoploaceratherium tetradactylum7 Lartet 1837 rhinoceros
Brachypotherium brachypus7 Lartet 1848 rhinoceros
 Perissodactyla - Chalicotheriidae
Chalicotherium grande7
Chalicotherium grande7 de Blainville 1849 chalicothere
 Perissodactyla - Equidae
Anchitherium aurelianense7
Anchitherium aurelianense7 Cuvier 1825 anchitheriine horse
 Theriamorpha - Talpidae
Proscapanus sansaniensis7, Mygalea antiqua7, Talpa minuta7
Proscapanus sansaniensis7 Lartet 1851 mole
Mygalea antiqua7 Pomel 1848 mole
Talpa minuta7 Blainville 1840 mole
 Theriamorpha - Soricidae
Heterosorex sansaniensis7, Sorex grivensis7
Sorex grivensis7 long-tailed shrew
 Theriamorpha - Erinaceidae
Galerix exilis7, Lantanotherium sansaniensis7
Galerix exilis7 de Blainville 1839 hedgehog
Lantanotherium sansaniensis7 Lartet 1851 hedgehog
 Theriamorpha - Erinaceoidae
Plesiodimylus chantrei7
Plesiodimylus chantrei7 Gaillard 1899 placental
 Chiroptera -
"Chiroptera" "I nov. gen. nov. sp. (Ginsburg 1964)"7, "Chiroptera" "II ("Vespertilio" noctuloides Lartet)(Ginsburg 1964)(Ginsburg 1964)"7, "Chiroptera" "III ("Vespertilio" murinoides Lartet) (Ginsburg 1964)"7
 Proboscidea - Deinotheriidae
"Deinotherium levius" = Deinotherium giganteum7
"Deinotherium levius" = Deinotherium giganteum7 Kaup 1829 deinothere
entered as "Dinotherium levius"
 Proboscidea - Gomphotheriidae
"Trilophodon angustidens" = Tetrabelodon angustidens7
"Trilophodon angustidens" = Tetrabelodon angustidens7 Cuvier 1806 gomphothere
 Proboscidea - Mammutidae
Zygolophodon turicensis15
Zygolophodon turicensis15 Schintz 1824 mastodon
Reptilia
 Squamata - Lacertidae
Amblyolacerta sp.1, Edlartetia sansaniensis n. gen.1, Lacerta sp.1
Amblyolacerta sp.1 Roček 1984 squamates
1 left dentary
Edlartetia sansaniensis n. gen.1 Augé and Rage 2000 squamates
neotype designated as MNHN Sa 23595, an incomplete right dentary
Lacerta sp.1 Linnaeus 1758 squamates
265 dentaries entered as Lacerta sp. 1; 54 dentaries entered as Lacerta sp. 2
 Squamata - Scincidae
? Scincidae sp.1
? Scincidae sp.1 Gray 1825 skink
18 dentaries entered as ? Scincidae sp. 1; one dentary entered as ? Scincidae sp. 2
 Squamata -
Lacertilia indet.1, Anguimorpha indet.1
Lacertilia indet.1 Owen 1842 lizard
fragment of humerus
Anguimorpha indet.1 squamates
; published as Anguimorpha incertae sedis; 1 anterior left dentary fragment
 Squamata - Anguidae
Anguinae indet.1, Ophisaurus sp.1, Pseudopus laurillardi1
Anguinae indet.1 Gray 1825 squamates
Ophisaurus sp.1 Daudin 1803 glass lizard
24 jaw elements (maxillae or dentary fragments) entered as Ophisaurus sp. 1; 5 jas elements (maxillae or dentary fragments) entered as Ophisaurus sp. 2
Pseudopus laurillardi1 Lartet 1851 legless lizard
 Squamata - Amphisbaenidae
Amphisbaenidae indet.1, Blanus sp.1, Blanus antiquus4
Amphisbaenidae indet.1 worm lizard
3 dentaries; 1 maxilla; approximately 800 vertebrae
Blanus sp.1 Wagler 1830 worm lizard
23 dentaries
Blanus antiquus4 worm lizard
 Squamata - Gekkonidae
Gekkonidae indet.1
Gekkonidae indet.1 Gray 1825 gecko
17 maxilla or dentary fragments; 34 trunk vertebrae; 4 caudal vertebrae
 Squamata - Colubridae
Natrix sansaniensis1, Natrix longivertebrata1, Natrix (aff. Natrix) longivertebrata1, Palaeonatrix lehmani1, Palaeonatrix (aff. Palaeonatrix) lehmani1, Colubrinae indet.1, Elaphe sp.1, Texasophis meini1, Coluber pouchetii1, Coluber (aff. Coluber) pouchetii1, Paleoheterodon arcuatus1, Natricinae indet.1, Neonatrix natricoides n. sp.1, Neonatrix europaea1
Natrix sansaniensis1 Lartet 1851 water snake
Natrix longivertebrata1 Szyndlar 1984 water snake
Natrix (aff. Natrix) longivertebrata1 Szyndlar 1984 water snake
Palaeonatrix lehmani1 Rage and Roček 1983 colubrid snake
Palaeonatrix (aff. Palaeonatrix) lehmani1 Rage and Roček 1983 colubrid snake
Colubrinae indet.1 Oppel 1811 colubrid snake
includes "Colubrinae incertae sedis nomen dubium" applied to Scaptophis Rochebrune, 1880; also includes 103 indeterminate vertebrae
Elaphe sp.1 Wagler 1833 colubrid snake
Texasophis meini1 Rage and Holman 1984 colubrid snake
Coluber pouchetii1 Rochebrune 1880 racer
Coluber (aff. Coluber) pouchetii1 Rochebrune 1880 racer
Paleoheterodon arcuatus1 Rage and Holman 1984 colubrid snake
Natricinae indet.1 Bonaparte 1838 colubrid snake
Neonatrix natricoides n. sp.1 colubrid snake
Holotype MNHN Sa 23683, one mid-trunk vertebra; 79 referred vertebrae
Neonatrix europaea1 Rage and Holman 1984 colubrid snake
 Squamata - Elapidae
Micrurus gallicus1
Micrurus gallicus1 Rage and Holman 1984 coral snake
 Squamata - Crotalidae
Viperinae "subtaxon (Vipera sp. "oriental vipers" or Daboia sp.)"13, Vipera aegertica n. sp.1
Vipera aegertica n. sp.1 pit viper
Holotype (Sa 23714) one trunk vertebra; also 20 referred vertebrae
 Squamata - Boidae
Albaneryx depereti1
Albaneryx depereti1 Hoffstetter and Rage 1972 sand boa
 Testudines - Chelydridae
"Trionyx sansaniensis n. sp." = Chelydropsis murchisoni2, Leptochelys braneti n. gen. n. sp.3, Broilia robusta n. gen. n. sp.3
"Trionyx sansaniensis n. sp." = Chelydropsis murchisoni2 Bell 1836 turtle
Leptochelys braneti n. gen. n. sp.3 Bergounioux and Crouzel 1965 turtle
MNHN SA2023 (holotype), a partial hyo/hypoplastron
Broilia robusta n. gen. n. sp.3 Bergounioux and Crouzel 1965 turtle
MNHN SA uncat. (lectotype), a string of “caudal” vertebrae
 Testudines - Testudinidae
Testudo cf. larteti11, "Testudo canetotiana" = Paleotestudo canetotiana6
Testudo cf. larteti11 Pictet 1853 turtle
BMNH 40772, left precoracoid
"Testudo canetotiana" = Paleotestudo canetotiana6 Lartet 1851 turtle
 Testudines - Geoemydidae
"Ptychogaster sansaniensis" = Ocadia sansaniensis6, "Ocadia sansaniensis n. sp." = Ocadia sansaniensis10, Ptychogaster cf. batalleri6, Clemmydopsis turnauensis6
"Ptychogaster sansaniensis" = Ocadia sansaniensis6 Lartet 1851 turtle
"Ocadia sansaniensis n. sp." = Ocadia sansaniensis10 Lartet 1851 turtle
MNHN SA 15648
Ptychogaster cf. batalleri6 Bergounioux 1931 turtle
"Ptychogaster (Temnoclemys) cf. batalleri"
Clemmydopsis turnauensis6 Meyer 1847 turtle
Aves
 Accipitriformes - Accipitridae
Haliaeetus piscator12
Haliaeetus piscator12 Milne-Edwards 1869 hawk
 Anseriformes - Anatidae
"Anas sansaniensis" = Chenoanas sansaniensis16
"Anas sansaniensis" = Chenoanas sansaniensis16 Milne-Edwards 1867 waterfowl
Amphibia
 Temnospondyli - Albanerpetontidae
Albanerpeton inexpectatum14
Albanerpeton inexpectatum14 Estes and Hoffstetter 1976 tetrapod
Sa 23401 - Sa 23403, Sa 23404a, Sa 23405, Sa 23407 - Sa 23409
Cyclostoma elegans
  -
Cyclostoma elegans
Cyclostoma elegans Muller 1774
1Augé and Rage 2000; 2Bergounioux 1935; 3Bergounioux and Crouzel 1965; 4Böhme 1999; 5Bollinger 1994; 6Broin 1977; 7Ginsburg 1964; 8Heißig 1989; 9Heizmann and Morlo 1998; 10Lartet 1851; 11Lydekker 1889; 12Mlíkovsky 1997; 13Rage and Bailon 2005; 14Rage and Hossini 2000; 15Tassy 1977; 16Zelenkov et al. 2018