Fossil remains of seal on Papuk 22.10.2019.

Vranić geological site is located on the southern slopes of Papuk. Numerous remains of fossilized vertebrates have been discovered within the sand deposits formed by the erosion of older, predominantly Paleozoic metamorphic rocks, as well as within Miocene deposits.

For the first time in 2019, experts from the Croatian Museum of Natural History extracted and scientifically processed the remains of fossilized pinnipeds. An analysis of the seal bones revealed that it was a species of Praepusa vindobonensis (Toula, 1897) from the family Phocidae, that was widespread in the greater area of the Pannonian Sea during the Lower Sarmatian Stage (12.5 million years ago).

Vranić is an extremely valuable site where vertebrae, fin bones and rib fragments of whales have been found, in addition to fossilized bones of pinnipeds. A small number of fossils refer to the remains of land mammals - even-toed ungulates and birds.

Lokalitet Vranić izuzetno je vrijedno nalazište gdje su osim fosilnih kostiju perajara pronađeni i kralješci, kosti peraja i fragmenti rebara skupind kitova dok se manji broj nalaza odnosi na ostatke kopnenih sisavaca – parnoprstaša i ptica.

Curiosities

22.10.2019.

Dispersal of the rhinoceros

Compared to the present day, the dispersal of rhinos (the Rhinocerotidae family) varied throughout the geological past.

22.10.2019.

(Un)favourable climate patterns 15.5 million years ago

Based on the fossils from the lake sediment discovered at Poljanska site and the analogy of living conditions with present-day plant species, the conclusion is that the climate patterns in the Papuk area at that time suggested a tropical to subtropical climate.

22.10.2019.