Sardomeryx oschiriensis is the oldest insular ruminant known (Burdigalian of Oschiri, Sardinia, Italy). Only two isolated upper dentitions compose the type material. The first phylogenetic hypothesis proposed Sardomeryx to be closely related to the Giraffoidea and especially the Late Miocene Sardinian derived giraffid Umbrotherium. Description of new specimens from Laerru (Burdigalian, Sardinia, Italy), including lower teeth and decidual premolars, leads to a reinterpretation of the phylogenetic position of Sardomeryx and of the early evolutionary history of the Giraffomorpha. Based on our phylogenetic hypothesis, Sardomeryx is nested within the Giraffomorpha as a basal Palaeomerycoidea. Sardomeryx may have originated from south-western Europe before the separation of the Corsica-Sardinia Block during the earliest Miocene. The enigmatic latest Oligocene Bedenomeryx from the south-west France is also considered as a basal (and the most ancient) member of the Palaeomerycoidea. Including Bedenomeryx in the Palaeomerycoidea lineage would place the origin of the Giraffoidea, the sister family of Palaeomerycoidea, within the Oligocene. Bedenomeryx is characteristic of arid south-western France, directly echoing the advanced condition observed in the Sardomeryx dentition (e.g. high crowned teeth, absence of the external postprotocristid on lower molar, reduction in length of the premolar row) typical for insular ruminants in arid environments.

A new study of the ichnotaxonomy and palaeoecology of the Late Pennsylvanian San Giorgio Basin's trace fossils was carried out. The tetrapod tracks were attributed to Batrachichnus salamandroides and to indet. tracks with a possible small temnospondyl and/or lepospondyl affinity. The invertebrate trace fossils include locomotion traces (Diplichnites isp.), grazing traces (Cochlichnus anguineus), and feeding structures (Treptichnus bifurcus, Treptichnus isp.). The trace fossils were evaluated by means of ichnofacies, highlighting a transitional Scoyenia-Mermia ichnofacies, typical of Carboniferous freshwater settings. The trace fossil co-occurrence and taphonomy was utilized to give a new interpretation of the fossil-bearing lithofacies, which are dolomitic mudstones-fine sandstones expression of marginal lacustrine environments repeatedly subject to flooding (three different ichnoassociations highlight different bathymetry/emersion). This is the oldest continental ichnoassociation of Italy, and its moderately high diversity and complexity suggest further study of this important Carboniferous trace fossil locality.

In this paper, we report on the first project on the promotion of urban geoheritage in Cagliari, the capital of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Italy). We briefly address the history of geo-palaeontological research in the city area and outline the main phases of development in the history of Cagliari’s geo-palaeontological museum. Geotourism is an efficient method of bringing geosciences to a wider audience. For this project, we compiled a geoitinerary of the main lithotypes and fossils present within the urban territory. Miocene lithotypes are the most important materials in the edification of the Cagliari’s old town, and in the past, the quarrying activity favoured the geology knowledge of the area. The presence of abandoned quarries and natural outcrops in parks, public gardens, on the nearby coastline, and also of fossils exposed in ashlars of historic buildings, made Cagliari an excellent example to valorise the geo-palaeontological heritage using geotourism. This project showcases the importance of knowledge transfer and non-technical communication methods by converting highly technical aspects into accessible and engaging information dissemination to a wide range of audience types, including non-specialised ones.

The Neogene fauna from Oschiri and Laerru (Sardinia, Italy) are famous for being the oldest known insular community from the Mediterranean Sea (Burdigalian). The only known ruminant specimen from Sardara is often associated to these faunas. Nevertheless, some doubts persist on its specific attribution and age. Here we re-describe the specimen and attribute it to "Amphitragulus "quercyi. This species is only known during the latest Oligocene, between 24.5 and 23 Ma. This chronological range is in agreement with the age attributed to the upper part of the Ussana Formation and the base of the transgressive marine formations of the first sedimentary cycle (Oligo-Aquitanian) of Central Sardinia where the fossil has been found. Instead of being the oldest insular mammal from Sardinia, the Sardara ruminant is the most recent fully continental mammal known in Sardinia and the first one dating from the Oligocene.

We review in detail the published fossil record of turtles from Sardinia and, in addition, we document previously undescribed specimens for the first time. Among these undescribed specimens, is the oldest occurrence of Testudo hermanni on the island, from the Early Pleistocene of Monte Tuttavista. The turtle fossil record in Sardinia goes back to the Eocene and comprises 18 different taxa, pertaining to 6 lineages: Podocnemididae, Cheloniidae, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, Testudinidae, and Trionychidae. Remarkable is the occurrence of Eocene pleurodires, whose presence is in agreement with the Oligo-Miocene rifting of the Corso-Sardinian block. Interestingly, the fossil record provides evidence for the presence in the island of both Testudo hermanni and Emys orbicularis during the Pleistocene although according to molecular data the extant populations of these two taxa were introduced in recent times. Finally, a large ungual phalanx from the Middle–Late Pleistocene Monte San Giovanni bone breccia testifies the occurrence of a giant tortoise in the Quaternary terrestrial ecosystem of Sardinia.