On Equus Hydruntinus from Grotta Polesini (Roma, Latium, central Italy) and Grotta Pagliacci (Foggia, Apulia, southern Italy): Grotta Polesini and Grotta Paglicci are located in the Italian Peninsula, the former on the Thyrrenian side (near Rome, Latium,

Abstract

: Grotta Polesini and Grotta Paglicci are located in the Italian Peninsula, the former on the Thyrrenian side (near Rome, Latium, Central Italy), the latter on the Adriatic side in the Gargano Promontory (Foggia, Apulia, Southern Italy). The analysis of the remains of E. hydruntinus recovered from the Paleolithic levels of Grotta Polesini and Grotta Paglicci show close affinities between the two samples. However, the specimens from Grotta Paglicci are larger-sized if compared to those from Grotta Polesini. Furthermore, the two samples show different percentages of upper third molars with isolated hypoglyph and open post-fossette. The percentage of upper third molars with open post-fossette from Grotta Polesini is similar to that of the extant E hemionus. E. caballus remains are more abundant than those of E. hydruntinus at Grotta Paglicci, whereas the Steppe Ass dominates over the horse at Grotta Polesini. This confirms the more temperate-Mediterranean character of E. hydruntinus with respect to E. caballus. In fact, especially during the Wurm episode, the Adriatic side was affected by the cold climatic conditions prevailing in the Balkans. The E. hydruntinus systematics is uncertain because no significant skull remains are known. The chronological and geographical distributions seem to indicate a local European evolution of the Steppe Ass from a Middle Pleistocene equid stock strictly related with the Villafranchian E. stenonis.