Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 40(2) 1997

Issue:

VOL 40(2) 1997

Keywords:

Taxonomic status, Desmana moschata, Spermophilus major/superciliosus, Late Weichselian, Denmark

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Taxonomic Status of Desmana (Insectivora) and Spermophilus (Rodentia) specimens from Danish Late Weichselian deposits

• Tine NORD ANDREASEN

Abstract:

A tooth assemblage of the genera Desmana GULDENSTAEDT, 1777 and Sper­mophilus CUVIER, 1825, retrieved from Late Weichselian freshwater deposits in Nørre Lyngby, Denmark, has been measured in order to determine the taxonomic relationships. The assemblage consists of three desman and two suslik specimens ascribed respectively to Desmana moschata (LINNAEUS, 1758) and Spermophilus major (PALLAS, 1779) on the basis of the length and width measurements of various teeth. Taxonomic problems concerning the fossil Late Pleistocene Spermophilus superciliosus KAUP, 1839 are discussed.