Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 44(2) 2001

Issue:

VOL 44(2) 2001

Keywords:

Species composition, systematics, new species, measurements, evolution, palaeoecology, chronostratigraphy, MN 17 zone

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Late Pliocene voles (Mammalia: Arvicolidae) from Varshets (North Bulgaria)

• Vasil V. POPOV

Abstract:

The filling of a karstic cavity near the town of Varshets (Prebalkan region, North Bulgaria) yielded at least 37 species of small mammals (insectivores, bats, lagomorphs, and rodents). The palaeoecological analysis shows that the assemblage is suggestive of a relatively humid and mild climate and a mosaic landscape with forests and meadows prevailing over the typical steppe vegetation. The extremely abundant and fairly wellpreserved fossil remains of six vole species are described in detail. Special attention is paid to their evolutionary level within the context of the main evolutionary trend during this time - an increase in the hypsodonty of the molars. One new species, Clethrionomys primitivus n. sp., which represents the most primitive evolutionary stage within the genus, is described. On the basis of the arvicolid assemblage it is suggested that the age of the fauna is late Pliocene (MN 17 zone).