Biogeographic relationships of Pliocene and Pleistocene North-western African mammals

摘要: Abstract North-western Africa, today included in the Palaearctic realm, is well separated from Ethiopian province by Sahara, but distribution of large mammals shows that these biogeographic domains cannot simply be extrapolated to late Cenozoic. In latest Miocene and earliest Pliocene, there were close connections with central also remarkable similarities East some instances reaching species level. There no evidence northern influence among mammals, although several small had a wide range Mediterranean. African or pan-African forms are largely predominant sampled Late their low diversity resulting probably local environmental conditions. few immigrants Eurasia, mostly carnivores. During Early Pleistocene, limited exchanges occurred Middle East, many more rest Africa. By Pleistocene Africa reached climax, it only part this period put stamp on fauna, “Ethiopian” character which decreased extinction its elements.