The rodent succession in the Sifón de Librilla section (Fortuna Basin, SE Spain): implications for the Mio-Pliocene boundary in the Mediterranean terrestrial record

Abstract

The long and continuous continental section of Sifón de Librilla (Fortuna Basin, southern Spain) provides a detailed biostratigraphic record distributed along eight localities, in which the magnetostratigraphy has been unambiguously established. This section therefore provides a unique opportunity to cross biostratigraphic information with magnetostratigraphic data to establish a reliable frame to date sites. This 800-m-thick sequence extends from the latest Miocene to the early Pliocene, recording more than 2 Myr. Here we provide a complete taxonomic survey of the recovered rodent remains, defining a new cricetid species named as Hispanomys romeroi. We also refine the phylogenetic relationships of the Apodemus, Stephanomys, Paraethomys, Ruscinomys and Apocricetus lineages. Considering the accurate age of the associations, we discuss the chronology of the first and last appearances of some species. In addition, this section clearly records the Mio-Pliocene boundary, allowing us to correlate between the marine and continental biostratigraphic scales. Taking advantage of this opportunity, we explore key biostratigraphic indicators for identifying the beginning of the Pliocene in the continental records, as well as for differentiating the MN13 and MN14 units, most specially the FOD of Occitanomys brailloni. According to this datum, we conclude that the Miocene-Pliocene boundary coincides with that of MN13-MN14 units.