Another thermophilic "Miocene survivor" from the Italian Pliocene: A geologically young occurrence of the pelagic eagle ray Aetobatus in the Euro-Mediterranean region

Aetobatus (Myliobatiformes: Aetobatidae) is a living genus of eagle rays that occurs in shallow-marine, tropical and subtropical environments the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans. Nowadays, does not inhabit cool- to warm-temperate European Mediterranean waters, though it known from this broad region by virtue several fossil teeth ranging chronostratigraphically lower Palaeogene upper Neogene. The present paper reports on aetobatid tooth discovered mid-Pliocene (upper Zanclean Piacenzian, 3.82-3.19 Ma) marine deposits exposed vicinities Certaldo (Tuscany, Italy) identified as belonging †Aetobatus cf. cappettai. This specimen comprises youngest occurrence along coasts mainland Europe; furthermore, together with previous finds roughly coeval Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain), represents most recent record whole Euro-Mediterranean region. In light environmental preferences extant spp., our discovery suggests palaeoenvironmental conditions favourable persistence tropical/subtropical taxa "Miocene survivors" Pliocene Tuscany. addition, raises question whether or Messinian Salinity Crisis really resulted complete collapse biota subsequent recolonisation Basin adjoining Atlantic waters and/or scattered marginal intrabasinal refugia at beginning Pliocene. possibility recolonising Sea through Suez Canal near future discussed.