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Skull of Lepus timidus praetimidus (holotype, GYN/492) from Ördöglyuk Cave in Solymár, Middle Pleistocene, Hungary. A, B -lateral views, C -ventral view, D -dorsal view, E -aboral view at the occipital region, F -occlusal surface of upper incisors, G occlusal surface of upper cheek teeth.
Source publication
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. tim...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... number of individuals = 9. Age structure: six juveniles, including five very young (less than 6 months old), one fully adult, and two subadult specimens. D e s c r i p t i o n. The holotype (GYN/492) is an almost complete skull (Fig. 1A-E) of a relatively young, although fully grown, specimen. The sagittal suture is not fully obliterated; the suture within the os frontale is ossified along half its length; the nasal bones are missing, and the occipital region is loosely connected to the skull. These features indicate a young ontogenetic status, about early age class ...
Context 2
... upper incisors are square in cross-section and are not compressed mesio-distally as in Lepus europaeus, with both lobs equally thick (Fig. 1F). The thickness-to-width index of the upper incisors is 82% in the specimen from Solymár, being characteristic for Lepus timidus (KOBY 1959). The mesial groove is relatively deep and narrow, not filled with cement. The P2 is rather compact with a deeply incised lingual re-entrant (hypoflexus). The axes of the two lingual lobes are more ...
Context 3
... mesial groove is relatively deep and narrow, not filled with cement. The P2 is rather compact with a deeply incised lingual re-entrant (hypoflexus). The axes of the two lingual lobes are more parallel than in most L. europaeus specimens and are typical of L. timidus (KOBY 1959). The hypostriae of the cheek teeth (P3-M3) are strongly crenulated (Fig. ...
Context 4
... prominent and anteriorly extended zygomatical process of the maxilla, the ends of the I1 roots, at the praemaxilla-maxilla suture, as well as relatively thick and square, in cross-section, incisors are the most characteristic features that allow one to distinguish Lepus timidus from Lepus europaeus (GUREEV 1936, KOBY 1959, 1960, CABOÑ-RACZYÑSKA 1964. They are all present in specimens from Solymár (Figs 1, 2). The lack of cement in the anterior groove of the upper incisor stressed by JÁNOSSY (1969) can sometimes be observed in Lepus timidus (personal observation), although it is an atypical and rare feature in this species. ...
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Citations
... Hares of the genus Lepus extended from Asia into Europe in the earliest Pleistocene, and are named as L. terraerubrae and/or L. praetimidus (Jánossy, 1969(Jánossy, , 1986Fladerer, 1984Fladerer, , 1987. They show molar pattern characteristics that are closely related to the later L. timidus, and the populations persist throughout the Middle Pleistocene (Fostowicz−Frelik and Gasparik, 2006). ...
During cave bear excavations in the Loutra Almopias Cave, Pella District, in Central Macedonia, Greece, an ecologically highly diverse Late Glacial faunal assemblage, mainly micromammals and birds, was sampled from an elevated small niche labelled LAC Ia. The lagomorphs are represented by steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla), brown (or European) hare (Lepus europaeus) and mountain hare (Lepus timidus). The site evidences the first record of this last species in Greece and its southernmost evidence so far. The taphonomic patterns of the fossils refer to eagle owls (Bubo bubo) as an accumulating agent. This is congruent with the total LAC Ia species spectrum and the bone element abundance and destruction patterns. Radiocarbon dates of 12,350±40 14 C yrs BP (VERA-5631) from a Lepus sp. bone and 16,427±96 14 C yrs BP (VERA-7402) from a L. timidus premolar indicate the emplacement of the assemblage in the (very probably early phase of the) Late Glacial. The taphocoenosis reflects a high variety of habitats and biodiversity from periglacial alpine grassland to deciduous forests and Mediterranean open fore-land areas with scattered brush and thick scrub. The position of the eagle owl site is approximately 50 m inside the cave. Along the distance from the Late Pleistocene entrance, the nocturnal raptors had to manage two direction changes within their flight path. That opening was closed later by talus sediments, and thus the fossil owl nest or feeding place has been sealed. The LAC Ia assemblage is so far a unique terrestrial record of Late Glacial biota in the Southern Balkans. Fladerer, F.A., Chatzopoulou, K., Steier, P., Bolka, M., Boev, Z. 2023. Eagle owls' predation within a highly diversified Late Glacial landscape: remains of pikas and hares (Lagomorpha) from the Loutra Almopias Cave (Central Macedonia, Greece). Geologica Balcanica 52 (2), 3-28.
... Mesomammals have been shown to be common, if not dominant, in many fossil localities in North America and Eurasia (Argenti and Kotsakis 2009;Fa et al. 2013;Fostowicz-Frelik and Gasparik 2006;Hockett 1994, Hockett andHaws 2002;Lloveras et al. 2010Lloveras et al. , 2011Nocchi and Sala 1997;Val and Mallye 2011), and a substantial body of actualistic experimental research into carnivore and raptor taphonomic modifications on leporids now exists for these regions (Álvarezet al. 2012;Armstrong 2016;Lloveras et al. 2008aLloveras et al. , b, 2009Lloveras et al. , 2012Lloveras et al. , 2014Lloveras et al. , 2016Rodríguez-Hidalgo et al. 2013, 2016). These authors have described the taphocoenoses of eagles, owls, foxes and small felids and have shown characteristics by which the effects of these carnivores on leporid prey can be differentiated and the potential accumulating agents of a leporid (and by extension mesomammal) assemblage may be identified. ...
The honey badger is a widespread, but understudied African carnivore, with high potential as a bone accumulator in cave and fossil deposits. This study serves as the first investigation into the taphonomic modifications of this species when feeding on small to medium-sized prey. Domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus) carcasses where fed experimentally to a breeding pair of captive honey badgers housed at the Johannesburg Zoo. Bones from the feeding refuse and the carnivore scats were analysed for anatomical composition, fragmentation patterns, tooth marks and digestion. The results were compared with feeding studies with various small carnivores on leporid prey. Honey badgers preferentially opened their prey at the belly and focussed their feeding on nutritionally high-yield soft parts, often discarding low-yield parts like distal appendages, crania and the skins. Bones from the refuse assemblage were often complete and unmodified but stripped of flesh. Bones from the scat assemblage displayed very high fragmentation, light digestive modification and high numbers of tooth marked bones. This latter character was particularly diagnostic for the honey badger. This study investigates a carnivore that has received little interest and shows the high potential of this carnivore to act as a bone accumulator. Further taphonomic research into this species will greatly enhance our understanding of this species and its activity in the fossil record.
... For the proximal radius, the largest Serengetilagus are comparable in radial head width (RHW) to the single specimen of Poelagus and overlap at the lower end of the size range of Lepus sp. (smaller than the extinct form Lepus timidus praetimidus, but comparable with Lepus timidus timidus [Fostowicz-Frelik and Gasparik 2006]). The largest Serengetilagus almost overlaps in radial head length (RHL) with the smallest Lepus. ...
... a Includes Lepus californicus, Lepus capensis, Lepus crawshayi, Lepus saxatilis, Lepus sp. b Measurements fromFostowicz-Frelik and Gasparik (2006). c EP 334/00, distal end incomplete; estimated HL 68.72, this gives an HDCL/HL of 0.32. ...
The forelimb elements of the leporid Serengetilagus praecapensis, from the famous Laetoli sites in Tanzania, occur in three stratigraphic levels. Most come from the Upper Laetolil Beds, the middle unit. Size frequency distributions of limb dimensions demonstrate one highly variable population with no clear trends through time. Statistical analyses cannot be used to support the presence of more than one species. Sexual dimorphism also is not apparent in the samples, but may have contributed to the variability in sizes. Anatomical traits of the forelimb ally Serengetilagus praecapensis with smaller, less cursorial leporids like the modern European rabbit Oryctolagus. Serengetilagus praecapensis has a predicted body mass in the range of 1.2–1.6 kg. Like some smaller modern rabbits, its forelimb suggests the capability for burrowing.
... In addition, mesomammals like leporids have been described as " the dominant taxon among the faunal archaeological remains in most of the Palaeolithic and Epipalaeolithic Iberian sites " (Lloveras et al. 2008a: 92). Indeed mesomammals are found in many archaeological assemblages of Europe and North America (for example; Argenti and Kotsakis, 2009; Fostowics-Frelik and Gasparik, 2006; Hockett, 1994; Hockett and Haws, 2002; Fa et al. 2013; Lloveras et al. 2010 Lloveras et al. , 2011 Nocchi and Sala, 1997; Val and Mallye, 2011). Mesomammals occupy an important trophic position as a key food source for many predators including humans (Lloveras et al. 2008a; Rodríguez-Hidalgo et al. 2013). ...
... Except for mole, bat, wildcat and dormice, which may represent an admixture from the Holocene layer, this fauna also belongs to a typical Late Pleistocene steppe-tundra community. In other Pleistocene sites in Europe, the steppe polecat was found in the context of steppe (Musil, 1980a), steppe-tundra (Sickenberg, 1968;Musil, 1980b;Rathgeber, 2004), steppe-forest (Sickenberg, 1968;Pohar, 1981) or mixed fauna (Musil, 1980a(Musil, ,b, 2010Gasparik, 1993;Forsten and Ziegler, 1995;Fostowicz-Frelik and Gasparik, 2006;Baryshnikov, 2012;Socha, 2014). Fig. 7. Selected dimensions of steppe polecat mandible and teeth from Deszczowa Cave compared with measurements of recent animals (acc. ...
... The association of steppe polecat with lemmings, voles and/or hamsters was noted at Bi snik Cave e layer 1 (Socha, 2014) and Cave IV on Mt. Bir ow in Poland (Muzolf et al., 2009), Krapina in Croatia (Musil, 2010), Solym ar in Hungary (Fostowicz-Frelik and Gasparik, 2006), Teufelslucken in Austria and Medweshja in Ural Mountains, Russia (Musil, 1980b). Bone-bearing strata from Krapina and Solym ar were dated pre-Weichselian, and layer 1 from Bi snik Cave to the Holocene . ...
The mandible of a steppe polecat was found during excavation in Deszczowa Cave (Częstochowa Upland, southern Poland) in 2011. Direct radiocarbon dating gave an age of 21 920 ± 150 BP (not calibrated), indicating the earliest part of the Last Glacial Maximum (MIS 3/MIS 2). The association of the steppe polecat with other steppe and tundra taxa from the same layer confirms that this species was an element of the widespread steppe-tundra ecosystem in East Europe during Late Pleistocene. There is no evidence of sousliks in the layer with the steppe polecat fossil.
Permian millipedes are rare, especially so considering the relative abundance of millipedes in Carboniferous rocks. We report an early Permian millipede fauna containing three new genera and species of millipedes ( Oklahomasoma richardsspurense new genus new species, Karstiulus fortsillensis new genus new species, and Dolesea subtila new genus new species) found in fossil-producing pockets of the Fort Sill fissures exposed in the Dolese Quarry near Richards Spur, southwest Oklahoma, USA. These are the first new genera of invertebrates to be described from this site, one of the most prolific fossil-vertebrate sites in the world. We also comment on taxa with morphological similarities and note previously described occurrences of Permian millipedes as well as occurrences of fossil myriapods (millipedes and centipedes) in karst deposits (caves and fissure fills) in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Caribbean. In contrast with the forms found at Richards Spur, most of these previous accounts of millipedes found in caves and fissure fills are of Pleistocene forms that are closely allied to modern taxa. The taxa from Richards Spur bear some similarities to Pennsylvanian forms. Karst (cave and fissure) faunas should be ranked with concretion faunas, cannel coals, and amber faunas as a major source of fossil myriapods.
UUID: http://zoobank.org/5d58e1fb-4e5b-4597-9cd9-5cc9e2096b4d
Hundreds of fossils were discovered at ex Cava a Filo (Bologna, Italy), dating back to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and to the initial stage of the Oldest Dryas, at the beginning of the Tardiglacial period. Such faunal assemblage testifies to cold climatic conditions during the Late Pleistocene on the Gessi Bolognesi hills near Bologna. Stratigraphical features of the excavated cave deposits, together with 14C dating, allow us to distinguish three main faunal associations (Cava Filo-1, Cava Filo-2 and Cava Filo-3) covering a time interval ranging from about 24500 to 17500 cal BP. These faunal associations, separated by temporal gaps, correspond to various climatic cold conditions, prevalently dominated by a steppe environment. At the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (about 19000 years ago) occurred an abrupt climate amelioration (Late Pleniglacial Optimum) evidenced by a considerable re-forestation and by the spread of different habitats, including pinewood areas (Pinus mugo and Pinus sylvestris). Among the identified large mammals discovered during last palaeontological excavations (2006-2011), the best represented specie is Bison priscus, followed by Canis lupus, Capreolus capreolus, Lepus timidus, Megaloceros giganteus, and Marmota marmota. Here, we provide the anatomical description of the specimens and photos of the most representative for each species.
The sedimentary context of ex Cava a Filo originated in a karsic system with relic fluvio-karsic galleries. Such network of tunnels were excavated during an advanced moment of the Late Pleistocene.
ex Cava a Filo testifies the presence of typical species closely related to cold climate and open environments with diffuse forested areas.
Macromammals are represented by large artiodactyls, such as Bison priscus, Megaloceros giganteus and Capreolus capreolus, with the predominance of the largest species. Canis lupus is the only carnivorous determined in the site, and lagomorphs are represented by Lepus timidus. Fossils were recoveded as single bones, with the exception of mountain hare, represented by a complete skeleton.
The small mammal assemblage of ex Cava a Filo is represented by 166 remains corresponding to 132 individuals. It is dominated by Microtus arvalis, a species widespread and often dominant in the Italian Peninsula around the Last Glacial Maximum. The environment surrounding the site was mainly characterized by open and dry meadows, while few low forested areas are testified by the presence of rare Clethrionomys glareolus, Apodemus cf. sylvaticus and Erinaceus europaeus.
Chinomys nivalis and Marmota marmota, although rare, indicate cold climate conditions. The taphonomy analysis shows
different accumulation causes: the site was likely a trap for most of the small mammals and few of them was probably
hunted by diurnal bird of prey or small carnivores.
Avifauna is represented by Lyrurus tetrix, Lagopus mutus, Perdix perdix, Nucifraga caryocatactes, Pyrrhocorax graculus,
and Falco tinnunculus. Such interesting association is quite rich in terms of species, and confirms the environmental context of deposition at ex Cava a Filo. An interesting tibia of bison shows anthropic signs on the bone surface, left by a lithic tool during the animal slaughtering.
Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis (Jäger, 1839) remains were recovered into a quarry at Vernasso/Dolenj Barnas near Cividale del Friuli (Udine, Friuli), in other Northeastern Italian provinces located in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto as well as on adjacent territories (Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czech Republic). Of particular interest appear the remains from Vernasso and those from Šaľa (about 60 km east of Bratislava, Săľa district, Nitra region, Southwestern Slovakia) found in 1973. In several cases, no stratigraphical data are unfortunately available. In any case, until today S. kirchbergensis was rarely been found everywhere in Eurasia during last two centuries. For more details on the S. kirchbergensis records in Eurasia vide in Billia (2008, 2011, 2014) and Billia & Zervanová (2015). In addition, selected reports on Oligo-Mio-Pliocene rhinoceros remnants found in the same areas are also taken into consideration. In one case, data on a Hungarian find of Eocene age is also listed.
Throughout time, climate changes have caused substantial rearrangements of habitats which have alternately promoted and disfavoured different types of taxa. At first glance, the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) shows the typical hallmarks of a cold-adapted species that has retreated to refugia since the onset of the current Holocene interglacial. In contrary to expectations, however, the species has a high contemporary genetic diversity with no clear differentiation between geographically isolated populations. In order to clarify the phylogeographic history of European mountain hares, we here analysed ancient DNA from the glacial populations that inhabited the previous midlatitude European tundra region. Our results reveal that the Ice Age hares had similar levels of genetic variation and lack of geographic structure as observed today, and the ancient samples were intermingled with modern individuals throughout the reconstructed evolutionary tree. This suggests a temporal genetic continuity in Europe, where the mountain hares were able to keep pace with the rapid changes at the last glacial/interglacial transition and successfully track their shifting habitat to northern and alpine regions. Further, the temporal demographic analyses showed that the species’ population size in Europe appears to have been tightly linked with palaeoclimatic fluctuations, with increases and declines occurring during periods of global cooling and warming, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that neither habitat shifts nor demographic fluctuations have had any substantial impact on the genetic diversity of European mountain hares. This remarkable resilience, which contrasts to a majority of previously investigated cold-adapted species, is likely due to its generalist nature that makes it less vulnerable to environmental changes.
