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The Early Pleistocene site of Pietrafitta (central Italy) produced a rich vertebrate assemblage from the Late Villafranchian Land Mammal Age (late MN18). Geological and paleobotanical data from Pietrafitta indicate a lacustrine environment, surrounded by a humid deciduous broadleaved forest with a temperate climate. The vertebrate assemblage consists of at least 40 taxa including actinopterygians, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Here, we concentrate on the ichthyofaunal and herpetofaunal remains. The ichthyofauna includesBarbus Cuvier and Cloquet, 1816,Scardinius Bonaparte, 1837, aff.Squalius Cuvier, 1817,andTinca Cuvier, 1817. The two anuran genera are the large-sized alytid frogLatoniaMeyer, 1843 and the “green frog”Pelophylax Fitzinger, 1843. Three snake precloacal vertebrae were recognized, one attributed to Colubrines indet., another one to ­Natrix sp. Laurenti, 1768, and the largest and most complete vertebra is referred to the genusViperas.l. Laurenti, 1768 (cf. gr. “Oriental vipers”). The chelonian fossils, including some complete carapaces and plastrals, are attributed to the European pond turtle (Emysgr.Orbicularis Linnaeus, 1758) and Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789).

This paper presents the first fossil fish, amphibian and reptilian fauna from Bosnia and Herzegovina Dinarides. The fauna of ectothermic vertebrates of the Bugojno palaeolake, dated to 15.2–14.0 Ma, composes of killifishes (Cyprinodontiformes indet.), a barb (Barbini indet. (aff. Barbus), a crocodile newt (Chelotriton sp.), a painted frog (Latonia sp.) and a crocodile (Alligatoroidea indet. [?Diplocynodon]). The crocodile remains are confined to the lower part of the section corresponding to the swamp deposit (unit 1). The remaining fauna, which includes fishes and amphibians, come from the upper lacustrine unit 2. A possible Barbus (Barbini indet. (aff. Barbus)) could represent one of the oldest fossil records of the genus found in Europe, which composes of skeletal elements and pharyngeal teeth. The crocodile newt (Chelotriton sp.) represents the first record of this group from the area. For the first time, fossil tadpoles of the genus Latonia are described in this paper, which, moreover, are the first record of tadpole for both the family Discoglossidae and clade of discoglossoid frogs. The crocodile remains, identified as Alligatoroidea indet., should belong to the genus Diplocynodon, which will be tested later on a better preserved material. The fossils, coming from the lacustrine interval, are referred to the deeper water facies. Taphonomic observations of the fossil remains suggest relatively short phase of decay of the animal bodies and their (probably quick) sedimentation in the deeper parts of the lake, with poor oxygen content.

Latonia seyfriedi, the type species of the genus Latonia, was described by von Meyer (1843) based on an articulated skeleton from the middle Miocene (Serravallian) of Ohningen, Germany. Besides the holotype, four additional articulated skeletons are known from the type locality; all display only the ventral aspect. A similar frog reported by Lartet (1851) from the middle Miocene of Sansan, France was later assigned to the genus Latonia as L. gigantea based on disarticulated skull roof bones covered with sculpture. In the course of time, similar bones were recovered from numerous localities, but, because the dorsal surface of the cranial roof was not known for L. seyfriedi, they were mostly identified as L. gigantea. The crucial question of whether the skull roof bones of L. seyfriedi, especially the frontoparietal and maxilla, bear sculpture or not remained unresolved until recently, when specimen TMH 8438 from Ohningen was made available for micro-computed tomography (CT) investigations. The present study reveals that the frontoparietal is covered by pustular sculpture as in the L. gigantea neotype, and that the sculpture on the maxillae is similar in both taxa. Since other bones are also similar, we suggest that L. gigantea is a junior synonym of L. seyfriedi. Micro-CT scanning of TMH 8438 made it possible to reconstruct the original positions of the bones. It turned out that the nasals are sculptured and overlapped with the frontal processes of the maxillae as well as with the anterior end of the frontoparietal. This allowed us to reconstruct the shape and proportions of the skull.

The fossil material of Esztramos 6 palaeovertebrate locality has been revised in this study with special regard to its herpetofauna. Result of this study has shown the presence of the species Latonia gigantea and the fauna list of the locality has been expanded by amphibian, reptilian, and mammalian taxa. Considering diff erences of the mammalian fauna the Esztramos 6 lower and upper sites are probably not coeval, however their palaeoenvironment shows similarities. With 23 figures and 1 table.

We here describe new remains of amphibians and reptiles from the early Miocene (MN 4) of two different Greek localities, Aliveri and Karydia. The newly described material consists of urodelans, alytids, indeterminate anurans, turtles, crocodylians, lacertids, indeterminate scincomorphs, anguids, colubrids, viperids, and indeterminate snakes. The presence of the frog Latonia cf. gigantea in Greece is documented for the first time. Additionally, the presence of viperids in Aliveri implies a much wider distribution for these snakes during the early Miocene of Europe. Of special interest is the presence of a peculiar colubrid that seems to possess a hitherto unknown vertebral structure, which is herein defined as the ‘paracentral ridge’. Although incomplete, the new material has important taxonomic and biogeographic implications, as it enhances our understanding of southeastern European herpetofaunas from the early Miocene, a time period that was characterised by major dispersal and extinction events and climatic change that affected the whole continent.

The Hula Painted Frog (Latonia nigriventer) is a rare frog species endemic to the Hula Valley, Israel. The species is the sole relict of a clade that was widespread mainly in Europe from the Oligocene until the beginning of the Pleistocene. The osteological characteristics of L. nigriventer are described based on X-ray microtomography scans of extant specimens and Pleistocene bones from the Hula Valley, to elucidate the evolutionary history of Alytidae and more specifically of Latonia. Based on the osteological description of L. nigriventer, we now better understand the differences, between Latonia and its sister taxon Discoglossus. They differ mainly in their cranial structure with the reinforced skull of Latonia having powerful jaws. Latonia nigriventer can achieve great force while closing its jaws, due to increased adductor muscle insertion surfaces as expressed by the presence of an additional paracoronoid process and an enlarged upper margin of the postero-lateral wall of the lower jaw. In addition, a wider pterygoid fossa and higher canthus postero-lateralis of the frontoparietal, compared to that of Discoglossus, also suggest the presence of well-developed adductor muscles. Furthermore, L. nigriventer have particularly strong skulls as expressed by: long articulations between different skull elements, interdigitation in the contact area between the nasals and between nasals and the frontoparietals, and fused frontoparietals. Both males and females L. nigriventer have very robust forelimbs, as indicated by well-developed medial crests of the humerus. Based on limited eastern Mediterranean paleontological data, we can only suspect that the dispersal of Latonia into the Levant from Asia Minor occurred at some point during the Miocene or later. The first appearance of L. nigriventer in the Hula Valley, its current habitat, dates to approximately 780 thousand years ago at the archaeological site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov. J. Morphol. 277:1131-1145, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

International audience; We herein describe the amphibians and reptiles from the Ptolemais fossil assemblage, originating from 12 nearby localities in northwestern Greece, spanning from the late Miocene (MN 13) to the early Pliocene (MN 15). Amphibians are known exclusively of anurans, with the genera Latonia and Rana being identified, the latter constituting the oldest so far known record of that lineage in Greece. Turtles are represented by the testudinid cf. Testudo, whereas numerous other indeterminate testudinoids are known. Lizards include scincids, lacertids, and at least two anguids. Among them, the material referred to scincids and the anguid Anguis constitute one of only rather few such occurrences described in the fossil record of the Eastern Mediterranean. Snakes are represented by indeterminate “colubrines” and the genus Natrix. The different ages of the Ptolemais fossiliferous localities, along with their close geographic vicinity offer the opportunity to study potential survival/extinction patterns of its amphibians and reptiles across the Mio-Pliocene boundary, a time interval that has been crucial for European herpetofaunas.; Nous décrivons ici les amphibiens et reptiles provenant de l’assemblage fossile de Ptolémaïs, issus de 12 localités géographiquement proches au nord-ouest de la Grèce, couvrant une période allant du Miocène supérieur (MN 13) au Pliocène inférieur (MN 15). Les amphibiens sont uniquement représentés par des anoures, dont les genres identifiés sont Latonia et Rana. La présence de ce dernier constitue la plus ancienne occurrence connue à l’heure actuelle en Grèce. Les tortues sont représentées par cf. Testudo, bien que plusieurs restes indéterminés de testudinoïdes soient connus. Les lézards comprennent des scincidés, des lacertidés et au moins deux anguidés. Chez les lézards, le matériel référé aux scincidés ainsi que l’anguidé Anguis constituent l’une des quelques occurrences éparses connues dans le registre fossile de l’Est de la Méditerranée. Les serpents sont représentés par des « colubrines » indéterminés et le genre Natrix. Les différents âges des localités fossilifères de Ptolémaïs, associés à la proximité géographique de ces dernières, offrent l’opportunité d’étudier les modèles potentiels de survie/extinction des amphibiens et des reptiles autour de la limite Mio-Pliocène, une période cruciale pour les herpétofaunes européennes.

EgeUn###, The fauna of amphibians and reptiles (except turtles) from the early Miocene localities of the Kilcak section (Turkey) is described here. The herpetofaunal assemblage of the Kilcak localities is the best documented early Miocene herpetofauna in Anatolia. The following taxa are revealed: Salamandra sp., Latonia sp., Eopelobates sp., Crocodylia indet., Lacertidae indet. (morphotypes A and B), Ophisaurus sp., Anguinae indet., Eoanilius cf. oligocenicus, Bavarioboa sp., Falseryx sp., and Texasophis sp. Among them, Latonia represents the oldest published record of this frog in Anatolia. Its maxilla is sculptured, extending the occurrence of the Latonia lineage with ornamented maxillae to the earliest Miocene, and demonstrating the long coexistence of the Latonia lineages (with smooth and ornamented maxillae), for almost the entirety of the Late Cenozoic. The genera Eopelobates, Eoanilius, and Falseryx are described from Anatolia and Asia for the first time. The booid fauna, being poorly known from this time interval (i.e., the so called "Dark Period" of booid snakes), significantly adds to our knowledge of early Miocene snake assemblages. The snake material from Kilcak indicates a transition from "ancient" late Oligocene to "modern" early-middle Miocene fauna. The widely distributed European taxa recovered in Kilcak, indicate that Anatolia had close faunal links to Europe during the late Oligocene - early Miocene., Russian Foundation for Basic ResearchRussian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) [19-04-00514, AAAA-A19-119020590095-9]; Ege UniversityEge University [TTM /001/2016, TTM/002/2016]; international bilateral research of TUBITAK-RFBRTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [111Y192]; University of Torino [SYNTHESYS ES-TAF-5910, SYNTHESYS AT-TAF-5911, SYNTHESYS HU-TAF-6145]; National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic (SAIA), Roman Rakitov (Borissiak Paleontological Institute RAS, Moscow, Russia) is thanked for assistance with SEM microscopy. Alexey Tesakov (Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and Andrej Eeroansky (Comenius University in Bratislava) are thanked for fruitful comments. Lars van den Hoek Ostende (Naturalis Biodiversity Center) is thanked for providing literature. This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research under No. 19-04-00514, and the government theme under No. AAAA-A19-119020590095-9 (EVS). Authors also were supported by Ege University (TTM /001/2016) and (TTM/002/2016) research grants as well as the international bilateral research of TUBITAK-RFBR 111Y192 during his visits in Russia. GLG acknowledges travel support from the University of Torino, SYNTHESYS ES-TAF-5910 (MNCN, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain), SYNTHESYS AT-TAF-5911 (NHMW, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna, Austria), and SYNTHESYS HU-TAF-6145 (HNHM, Hungarian Museum of Natural History, Budapest, Hungary) and funding from the National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic (SAIA)-the curators of MNCN, NHMW, and HNHM (Marta Calvo Revuelta, Heinz Grillitsch and Silke Schweiger, and Judit Voros, respectively) are highly acknowledged. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their comments and corrections.

The single extant species of the anuran genus Latonia lives in Israel, but in the fossil record the genus is known mainly from Europe, spanning from the Oligocene to the early Pleistocene. Here we describe new remains of Latonia from the early to late Miocene of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (NE Iberian Peninsula), coming from the following localities: Sant Mamet (MN4), Sant Quirze and Trinxera del Ferrocarril (MN7+8), and Castell de Barberà, Can Poncic 1 and Can Llobateres 1 (MN9). Fossils from the late Aragonian and early Vallesian are attributed to Latonia gigantea mainly because of the morphology of the ornamentation that covers the maxillae. In turn, an ilium from Sant Mamet is not diagnostic at the specific level and is assigned only to the genus Latonia. The newly reported remains represent the first record of L. gigantea in the Iberian Peninsula, where Latonia was previously known by a single report of Latonia cf. ragei from Navarrete del Río (MN2) and remains from other localities unassigned to species. Moreover, the Vallès-Penedès remains represent one of the southernmost records of the species known thus far. The presence of Latonia in these localities confirms the humid and warm environment suggested by the recorded mammal fauna.

Aus den oberpliozänen Füllsedimenten eines fossilen Erdfalles bei Kaltensundheim in der Rhön (Thüringen) werden Skelettreste von anuren Amphibien beschrieben. Es liegen Reste von Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758), Bufo sp., Rana temporaria Linus, 1758 sowie vermutliche Parietale nicht bestimmbarer Salientia vor. Die bisher mehrfach genannte Latonia lässt sich nicht nachweisen. Sie muss aus der Faunenliste von Kaltensundheim gestrichen werden. Skeletal remains of anuran amphibians are described from sediment filled earthfall depression of upper Pliocene age near Kaltensundheim/Rhön (Thuringia). Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758), Bufo sp., Rana temporaria Linnaeus, 1758, as well as a probable parietal of an indeterminate salientian could be distinguished. There is no evidence of the often mentioned Latonia. This genus should be eliminated from the faunal list of Kaltensundheim. doi:10.1002/mmng.20020050113

Aim: To investigate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on metabolic alterations, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), immunohistochemical distribution, and morphological damage to penile erectile tissue in rats. Materials and methods: Male Wistar albino rats were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 rats (control group, n = 8) received tap water ad libitum, and group 2 rats (n = 8) were fed with 20% ethanol. Increasing levels of alcohol were given to the rats over 12 weeks. Immunohistochemistry was then performed using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique on 5-mu m thickness tissue sections. Stained sections were examined by imaging microscope. Results: Alcohol consumption resulted in a significant increase in iNOS immunoreactivity in the penile erectile tissue. Increased iNOS expression was determined in the tunica albuginea, cavernosal smooth muscle cells, trabeculae of connective tissue, arterioles, and the urethral epithelium. Moreover, chronic alcohol consumption resulted in decreasing serum testosterone and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels with increasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Conclusion: Chronic moderate alcohol consumption can affect penile erectile tissue by increasing iNOS immunoreactivity and induce histopathological damage such as penile fibrosis. These abnormalities are also related to the defense mechanism against morphological damage. Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, TurkeyKocaeli University This work was supported by the Research Fund of Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.

The fossil anurans of Morocco remain rare and poorly known. The study of the anuran remains from the Upper Miocene (Vallesian) of Oued Zra has revealed a new discoglossid described as Latoglossus zraus n. gen., n. sp. It is morphologically close to the Neogene European genus Latonia. It differs from the latter and from all other discoglossids by the morphology of its angular s.l. The Miocene discoglossid of Beni-Mellal, previously identified as Discoglossus [11] , assigned to Latonia [8] , [10] , and then to Discoglossus [9] , might belong to this new taxon.

Amphibian declines are seen as an indicator of the onset of a sixth mass extinction of life on earth. Because of a combination of factors such as habitat destruction, emerging pathogens and pollutants, over 156 amphibian species have not been seen for several decades, and 34 of these were listed as extinct by 2004. Here we report the rediscovery of the Hula painted frog, the first amphibian to have been declared extinct. We provide evidence that not only has this species survived undetected in its type locality for almost 60 years but also that it is a surviving member of an otherwise extinct genus of alytid frogs, Latonia, known only as fossils from Oligocene to Pleistocene in Europe. The survival of this living fossil is a striking example of resilience to severe habitat degradation during the past century by an amphibian.

Definition of the genus Latonia v. Meyer ,, 1843 (Anura, Discoglossidae) and description of all its known skeletalelements are given. Taxonomic revision based on both articulated skeletons and disarticulated bones from the Late Oligocene to Pliocene deposits of various European localities revealed that Prodiscoglossus vertaizoni Friant ,, 1944 is in fact the earliest known Latonia identical with that from the French locality Coderet, both of the Late Oligocene age. The Miocene representatives of the genus, namely Latonia seyfriedi v. Meyer .. 1843, L. gigantea ( Lartet ,, 1851), L. ragei Hossini ,, 1993, and Latonia sp. have been widely spread in western, central, and eastern Europe. General evolutionary trends that can be recognized in the Miocene and Pliocene material are appearance of the secondary dermal sculpture on the maxillae in some species, and gigantism. Summary of evolution within the genus Latonia and a revised description of the holotype of L. seyfriedi and all other known material from the type locality Ohningen (including a newly discovered specimen) are given. It was confirmed that Discoglossus giganteus Wettstein-Westersheimb ,, 1955 and Pelobates robustus Bolkay ,, 1913 are synonyms of Latonia,, and the same holds (besides mentioned “Prodiscoglossus” vertaizoni)) also for Diplopelturus ruscinensis Deperet ,, 1890. Latonia fejfari ( Spinar ,, 1975) and L. kolebabi Spinar ,, 1976 are synonyms of L. gigantea.. Since L. gigantea and L. ragei were described on the basis of disarticulated bones (the principal diagnostic character being presence or absence of sculpture on the maxilla), whereas L. seyfriedi was based on articulated skeletons embedded by their dorsal side in matrix, the taxonomic relations among these three forms remain unsolved until chemical preparation of the latter holotype will be possible. Available data on the geographic and stratigraphic distribution are summarized and discussed (together with structural evolution within the genus) on the background of the palaeogeographic and palaeoclimatic situation in Europe during the Neogene.

The extinct discoglossid genus Latonia Meyer (1843) was widely distributed in Europa in the Tertiary, and included the largest known discoglossid frogs. Among the characters used by most subsequent authors as diagnostic of this genus, is the presence of dermal sculpturing on certain cranial bones, especially on the maxillae and frontoparietals. The state of this character (presence or absence of sculpture) is unknown in the type species of the genus (Latonia seyfriedi), as well as in some fossils referred to this genus. It is established here that sculpture may be lacking in Latonia; this feature characterizes a new species known from three French localities: Coderet (late Oligocene), Laugnac and "Saint-Gérand-Le-Puy" (early Miocene). Such as feature could correspond to a generic distinction. A revision of the type species is required to redefine the genus Latonia.

Gobiates kermeentsavi, n. gen., n. sp., from the Cretaceous of the Gobi desert, Mongolian People's Republic, is characterized by a large fontanelle in the frontoparietal, a complete maxillary arch, sculptured cranial bones and probable amphicoelous vertebrae with ribs. It is referred to the Discoglossidae, near the Discoglossus-group, because it possesses prootics with an extensive lateral projection, and a sphenethmoid with only a short rostral process. “Eopelobates” leptocolaptus Borsuk-Bialynicka (1978), originally referred to the Pelobatidae, is referred here to Gobiates. The new genus has certain morphological features in common with Pelobatidae, although for the most part these characters appear to be correlated with the presence of a wide semicircular head and the presence of dermal skull sculpture. Gobiates may be related to such fossil discoglossids as Scotiophryne (Cretaceous, North America) and Latonia (Late Cretaceous–Middle Cenozoic, Eurasia).