Miocene mammals from Lisbon and geologic age, A showcase for marine-continental correlations

Abstract

The Lower Tagus basin in Lisbon and Setúbal Peninsula offers excellent conditions for marine-continental correlations, especially for Lower and Middle Miocene. A research Program was long (1960) conceived by us and is being carried on since then. Among its main goals, it deals with Stratigraphy, Paleontology (and Paleoecology and Paleoclimatology), accurate dating (planktic foraminifera. K-Ar, Sr isotopes), other isotope data (O, C) and related tectonic events. A huge volume of data has been obtained, much improving the already significant earlier status of knowledge. The time seems adequate for trying a global (and much more accurate) synthesis. The following items will be presented: - a corrected list of Lower and early Middle Miocene (mostly non marine) mammals, completed and thoroughly revised since earlier attempts (Antunes, 1984; Antunes in Antunes et al., 1996). - an updated model of the Lower Tagus Basin at its distal part (Lisbon & Setúbal Peninsula); the levels that yielded non marine mammals are shown in their accurate frame of marine units and age. - an overview of environmental evolution, especially on temperature and moisture shifts. The list of medium to large-sized marrunals has been made possible owing to contributions by (among others) Leonard Ginsburg (Paris), Maria Teresa Alberdi & Jorge Morales (Madrid) and the author; for small mammals, by Pierre Mein (Lyon). The geologic setting is mostly due in its present form to João Pais & Paulo Legoinha (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, UNL) with author's help. Most general data on vertebrate fauna (including fishes, reptiles and mammals) have been provided by M.T. Antunes.