Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 38(1) 1995

Issue:

VOL 38(1) 1995

Keywords:

Eastern Europe, Pliocene, Pleistocene, small mammals, Rodentia, faunal evolution, climate

Download PDF

Share this article:

Evolution of small mammal communities from the south of Eastern Europe near the Plio-Pleistocene boundary

• Alexey S. TESAKOV

Abstract:

Small mammals of the reference sections from the south of Eastern Europe have been analyzed. An attempt is here made to investigate climatic influence on the development of small mammal communities. Faunas dating from 2.8 to 1.6 Ma were subdivided into six formal stages on the basis of the level of hypsodonty of several evolutionary lineages of arvicolids. Analysis of the structure of small mammal communities confirms the existence o f a trend towards open landscapes in the region during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene of southern East Europe.