Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni

Pliocene Vertebrate Fauna of Çalta (Ankara)

Abstract: The vertebrate fauna of Çalta contains 3 species of Amphibia, 10 species of Reptilia, 1 species of Aves 27 species of Mammalia, The age this rich fauna is Upper Pliocene. The main subject of this paper focalizeson Amphibia, Reptilia. The first class is represented by Pelobates sp., Bufo cf. viridis Kana sp., the second oneby Testudo sp., Scincidae, Lacertidae, Ophisaurus sp., Varanus marathonensis, Amphisbaenidae, Eryx sp., Colubridae Palaeonaja sp. Çalta is the first deposit containing remains of Cenozoic Batracians Reptiles in the, area ofEastern Mediterranean. Specific elements of Maghreb Squamate fauna entered to Africa from via Eastern Mediterranean. Anatolia was located on the path of these traveling species on their way to Africa. The Çalta deposit, therefore,represents an important landmark in the history of Peri-Mediterranean Squamates of Çalta, like those of MoroccanNeogene, suggest that the penetration of Eurasian elements in Africa oecured gradually during the pliocene.