Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 49A(1-2) 2006

Issue:

VOL 49A(1-2) 2006

Keywords:

Lagomorpha, Lepus timidus praetimidus, Pleistocene, Solymár, Hungary

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The taxonomic status of leporid remains from Ördöglyuk Cave, Solymár (Hungary)

• FOSTOWICZ-FRELIK Ł.
• GASPARIK M.

Abstract:

The near complete fossil skull which is the holotype specimen of “Lepus praetimidus” KRETZOI in JÁNOSSY, 1969 from the Middle Pleistocene of Ördöglyuk Cave in Solymár (Hungary) was revised, redescribed and compared with two extant subspecies of Lepus timidus LINNAEUS, 1758. The subspecies were L. t. varronis MILLER, 1910 from the Alps and L. t. timidus from the European part of Russia, St. Petersburg Oblast. The accompanying postcranial material was studied and described for the first time. The fossil remains (skull, mandibles, and isolated teeth) express all characteristic features of Lepus timidus. The dimensions of the skull and postcranial material are within the known range of variability of Lepus timidus, being most similar to the population from Russia. Thus, it is proposed to refer the specimen from Solymár to the species Lepus timidus and hence as Lepus t. praetimidus. The associated fauna of Solymár with Lagurus lagurus (PALLAS, 1773) and Arvicola mosbachensis (SCHMIDTGEN, 1911) was recently established as late Middle Pleistocene in age.