Les Mammiferes fossiles recoltes a Sansan au cours du XIXe siecle

One of the richest occurrences of fossil Mammalia in Europe was discovered in 1834 in the Helvetian (middle Miocene) deposits of Sansan in southwestern France. Nearly all groups are represented, from Chiroptera to proboscidians. The extraordinary richness of the deposit makes statistical treatment possible. Although many changes occurred in the marshy to lacustrine environment during the time of deposition, as reflected in clays, marls, limestones, and molasse, the amplitude of the changes never was large enough to destroy the balance that prevailed through the Helvetian in the area. Restudy of the fossil materials collected over a long period of time resulted in some nomenclatural changes.