Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 60(2) 2017
Issue:
VOL 60(2) 2017
DOI:
10.3409/azc.60_2.105
Keywords:
Carnivora, morphology, Late Pleistocene, Holocene, faunal assemblage
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Carnivores from the Borsuka Cave (southern Poland) as an example of changes in carnivore assemblages during MIS 2 and MIS 1.
Abstract:
Two faunal assemblages were identified in the fossil material of carnivores from the Borsuka Cave. The older one, of Late Pleistocene age, found in layers V-VII and dated as the end of MIS 3 and MIS 2, included nine species: Vulpes lagopus, Vulpes sp., Ursus arctos arctos, Gulo gulo, Meles meles, Martes martes, Mustela erminea, Mustela nivalis and Lynx lynx. The younger assemblage, dated as MIS 1 and found in layers I-IV, comprised six species: Vulpes vulpes, Ursus arctos arctos, Meles meles, Martes martes, Mustela ex. gr. eversmanii-putorius and Felis silvestris. The carnivore material wasrepresented by almost all skeletal elements, with the majority constituted by cranial bones, isolated teeth, vertebrae, metacarpals and metatarsals. Remains of Vulpes vulpes and Meles meles were the most abundant; the presence of young individuals of both species confirmed that they used the cave as a shelter and to raise cubs. The other carnivores were much rarer. Especially the occurrence of an uncommon members of Late Pleistocene paleocommunities: Gulo gulo and Lynx lynxis noteworthy. Some components of the older assemblage: Ursus arctos arctos and Gulo gulo, represented large, robust forms, whose great size according to Bergman’s rule was an adaptation to cool climate conditions. Likewise, the two smallest mustelids, Mustela erminea and Mustela nivalis, were represented by small and gracile specimens which were characteristic of Late Pleistocene cold phases. Metrically and morphologically the animals from the younger period dated as MIS 1 corresponded to the modern European forms.
