Fossili cenozoici della Valsugana. Catalogo della "Collezione Boschele", parte III

Cenozoic fossils from Valsugana. Catalogue of the Boschele collection, part III – This third contribution to the description of the “Boschele palaeontological Collection” present a systematic study of ~300 specimens, mainly marine invertebrates, found in several stratigraphical levels dating to the early Oligocene. In this contribution we describe the first vertebrate remains found in Paleogene sediments of Valsugana (Trento Province sector). They represent the highest trophic levels of the shallow sea that during the Rupelian developed in the northernmost sector of the Lessini Shelf. The vertebrate fauna includes dugongids and chelonians (represented by numerous skeletal remains), diodontids, sparids and cartilaginous fish (all documented by the exclusive presence of isolated teeth). The skeletal remains, disarticulated and severely abraded are interpreted as indicative of high-energy phases, which could, however, be interrupted by moments of stasis. During such events skeletal remains accumulated on the seafloor and underwent predation by invertebrates as documented by the presence of feeding traces, in particular on dugongid remains.