Dicerorhinus etruscus etruscus from the Late Villafranchian Site of Senèze (Domeyrat, Haute-Loire, Central France)

Many rhino remains were found in the fossiliferous site of Senèze, all belonging to Dicerorhinus etruscus (Falconer, 1859). The new excavations yielded a mandible fragment, two proximal radial epiphyses, 11 complete or subcomplete carpal bones, six metacarpals, 13 tarsal bones, seven metatarsals and numerous phalanges and sesamoids, pertaining for the most part to one individual. Including the numerous specimens gathered during the old excavations, but excluding the heavily fragmented or damaged pieces as well as the vertebrae and ribs, the grand total for the Senèze rhino remains is 17 crania, 19 mandibles, four isolated upper tooth rows, about 20 isolated cheek teeth, 11 scapulae, 14 humeri, 18 radii, 12 ulnae, 60 carpals, 45 metacarpals, 15 femora, 27 patellas, 12 tibiae, 60 tarsals, 43 metatarsals, 105 phalanges and 70 sesamoids. Such a quantity of fossils makes Senèze by far the richest locality for Dicerorhinus etruscus. These remains are compared anatomically and biometrically with the homologous material of Dicerorhinus etruscus etruscus of other European Villafranchian sites, the Middle PleistoceneMiddle pleistocene D. etruscus brachycephalus and the Early Villafranchian Dicerorhinus jeanvireti. Owing to its size and proportions, all the Senèze material is identified as belonging to evolutionary stage II of Dicerorhinus etruscus etruscus, typical of the Late VillafranchianLate Villafranchian, see villafranchian, late. Its presence therefore helps to date the site and to identify its paleoenvironmentPaleoenvironment as a wooded savanna with a rather wet climate. The osteological and biometrical differences between D. etruscus etruscus and the younger and somewhat larger D. etruscus brachycephalus do not justify a full species status for the latter.