A Middle Miocene vertebrate assemblage from the Vienna Basin of the southern Czech Republic: Implications for the paleoenvironments of the Central Paratethys

摘要: Abstract Czujan's sandpit is an abandoned quarry in the Vienna Basin (Mikulov, Czech Republic) that has yielded important middle Miocene vertebrate assemblage. Here we re-describe site from perspective of sedimentology, taphonomy, and paleoenvironments, further review biochronology fauna to clarify age. The updated faunal list includes two testudines (one trionychid one medium-sized testudinid), 12 species terrestrial mammals (three proboscideans, four perissodactyls, artiodactyls, carnivoran), consistent with early Astaracian (MN6) position Wielician/Kosovian boundary just below floor sandpit, our new biostratigraphic data, allow us constrain fossil assemblage latest MN6 (late Badenian, ⁓13.6 Ma) resolves a longstanding controversy about age site. exposes coarsening-upward succession deposited braid delta environment, comprises three facies association: bottom top, pelagic sediments (FA1); prodelta slope (FA2); distributory channel infills front plain (FA3), latter containing all studied vertebrates. We propose taphonomic explanations for genesis assemblage: (1) time-averaged generated by riverine transport, or (2) transported mass death site(s), episode(s) caused seasonal droughts river catchment. Our findings more precise reconstruction late Badenian paleoenvironments northwest area adjacent Carpathian Foredeep Basin. This region comprised mosaic continental habitats dominated woodlands but also including forest patches open environments.