Los mastodontes (Proboscidea, Mammalia) del Mioceno Medio de Tarazona de Aragón (Zaragoza, España)

Abstract

In the present work the remains of mastodonts from the middle Miocene of Tarazona de Aragon (Zaragoza) are studied and their taxonomic classification to Gomphotherium, Zigolophodon or Archaeobelodon is discussed. The teeth studied are of bunodont type. The upper incisors present ventral enamel ribbon on the apex. The lower incisors exhibit piriform-flattened transversal sections. The above mentioned features exclude their classification as Z. turiscensis. The dorsoventrally flat-shaped lowers incisors of Tarazona seem to suggest the presence of Amebelodontidae family but due to other features these pieces have been attributed to G. angustidens. Furthermore, some diagnostic-charasteristics of the genus Archaeobelodon are discussed.