The Record of Prodeinotherium in the Iberian Peninsula: New Data from the Vallès-Penedès Basin

Deinotheres (Proboscidea, Deinotheriidae) are a clade of non-elephantiform proboscideans that originated in Africa and dispersed into Eurasia by the early Miocene. In Europe, deinotheres first recorded Greece during MN3, although they did not become common faunal element throughout Europe until MN4. Early Miocene (MN3–MN4) deinothere remains from generally assigned to different species (Prodeinotherium cuvieri) than those middle bavaricum; MN5–MN6). Vallès-Penedès Basin (NE Iberian Peninsula), Prodeinotherium very scarce largely remain unpublished. To clarify their taxonomic assignment, we describe available material compare it with elsewhere Europe. Based on size few diagnostic occlusal details, tentatively recognize both cf. P. cuvieri bavaricum basin. Although all studied sites had previously been correlated MN4, recognition at els Casots les Escletxes is consistent ongoing litho- magnetostratigraphic studies suggesting slightly younger age for these sites. The lack older (MN3) localities Basin, where Gomphotherium already recorded, further supports view Western somewhat later gomphotheres.