LE PRINCIPALI FAUNE A GRANDI MAMMIFERI DEL PLEISTOCENE SUPERIORE DELL'ITALIA CENTRALE

Abstract

The main mamma! associations of Late Pleistocene in Centra! Italy are examined. These are tentatively correlated with various climatic curves, in particular with those obtained from oceanic isotopes. The incidence of forms characteristic of various habitats, the persistence of "pachyderms" of Mid­dle Pleistocene origin, the presence of borea! or steppe/tundra forms are considered as criteria of distinction of single as­sociations, also with respect to the geographical position of the sites. The examination of the associations put in evidence how in Centra! Italy the faunas maintain a cold-temperate character, also during the dry cold acmes of the last glacial period. The faunas of the tyrrhenian side indicate a climate milder than that of the adriatic side.