Quaternary vertebrate (Mammals) fossil findings from the Denizli basin and their significance

Abstract

The Denizli Basin is located in the Western Anatolia and it includes early-middle Miocene-Quaternary terrestrial sediments. Several mammal fossil localities were found in these terrestrial sediments. Especially, small-large mammal fossils from Quaternary period are considersbly rich in terms of genus and species and they are mostly the first findings in Anatolia. Micro mammal fossils have been identified in the fluvial sediments in the lower levels of Tosunlar Formation (Gokpinar locality). However, large vertebrate (mammals) fossils have been obtained from different levels of travertines in the Tosunlar Formation used in marble industry. These fossil groups, which include new genus and species, have a significant role in the identification of the paleofauna of Anatolia in Quaternary period.