Taphonomic analysis of Tapirus arvernensis remains from the Lower Valdarno(Tuscany, Central Italy)

The present investigation describes the taphonomic evidence that can be obs erved on the remains of two Tapirus arvernensis individuals, a prime-aged a dult and a juvenile, recovered at Casenuove (Empoli), in the Lower Valdarno marine Pliocene sediments. The spatial arrangement of the bones on the fos siliferous surface suggests the action of one or two currents, and seems to agree with the tentative reconstruction of the shoreline at the Early-Mid- Pliocene transition. Reference to the biology and ethology of presently liv ing Asian tapirs leads to interpret the two individuals as a female, presum ably at its first breeding experience, and its cub. (C) 2001 Editions scien tifiques et medicale Elsevier SAS.