Neogene vertebrates from the Gargano Peninsula, Italy

Fissure-fillings in Mesozoic limestones in the Gargano Peninsula yield rich collections of fossil vertebrates, which are characterized by gigantism and aberrant morphology. Their age is considered to be Vallesian or Turolian. The special features of the fauna are probably due to isolation on an island. The vertebrate bearing fissure deposits are covered by a calcarenite which is dated as probably Serravallian on the basis of Foraminifera. This would mean that the continental Turolian may be older than the marine Serravallian, a conclusion which is in contrast with the general idea on the correlation of marine and continental Miocene and Pliocene in Europe.