Propotamochoerus Provincialis (gervais, 1859) (suidae, Mammalia) from the Latest Miocene (late Messinian; Mn13) of Monticino Quarry (brisighella, Emilia-Romagna, Italy)

Nine specimens of fossil pigs are described here from the latest Miocene mammal assemblage of Monticino Gypsum Quarry (also referred to as Brisighella). The tooth remains consist of three elements of the upper dentition (I(1), M(3) and M(2)), and two of the lower dentition (P(2) and M(1)). There are four post-cranial elements (astragalus, cuboid, navicular and third phalanx). The degree of dental weal; the closure of the root of the incisor, as well as the relative dimensions of the post-cranial remains indicate that the fossils belong to at least two individuals, a juvenile and an adult. The specimens have been assigned to the species Propotamochoerus provincial is (Gervais, 1859) based on a combinaton of dental morphometrics and morphological characters. Affinities may be shown with recent forms of Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758, based on aspects of the morphology of the post-cranial remains implying that the latter are quite homogenous within primitive or derived taxa of the family As the post-cranial morphology of Propotamochoerus is poorly known the description given here of the findings at Brisighella is on important addition to the knowledge regarding the genus. The European distribution of Propotamochoerus provincialis (Gervais, 1859) ranges from the biochronological units MN13 to MN15. This description of the Brisighella specimens augments the knowledge of the Monticino Gypsum Quart), fauna, the most well-represented Messinian continental vertebrate assemblage in Italy.