ABSTRACT
The lower molar (m1) of cave bears from Late Pleistocene localities of the Urals was studied employing the methods of traditional morphometry and geometric morphometrics. On the basis of the size and shape variation of m1, the small cave bear (Ursus ex gr. savini-rossicus) was found to have been a part of the faunas from the caves Skazka, Viasher, Dynamitnaya, Chudesnitsa, and Chernye Kosti. The small cave bear presence in faunas from the Medvezhya, Makhnevskaya Ledyanaya, Asha 1, Ignat'evskaya, and Barsuchii Dol caves was confirmed as well. The species range of the small cave bear encompassed the Northern, Middle, and Southern Urals in the Late Pleistocene. The ranges of the small cave bear and cave bear (Ursus kanivetz) overlapped from the beginning (marine isotope stage 5e) to the middle (middle marine isotope stage 3) of the Late Pleistocene.
Subject(s)
Ursidae , Animals , Caves , FossilsABSTRACT
In small mammals, the degree of micro- and mesowear of molars depends on the feed hardness, abrasiveness, and some other characteristics. Analysis of micro- and mesorelief of the paleontological material is used for reconstruction of some animal diet parameters. Small mammals pass through a series of complex transformations on the way from the objects of biocenosis to paleontological objects. Bone remains underwent transformations during accumulation and fossilization. In particular, bone remains from ornithogenous deposits were exposed to the bird digestive system elements. We have experimentally studied changes in some parameters of the narrow-headed vole (Microtus gregalis) molars derived from the owl pellets. Comparison of the same samples before and after exposure to the digestive system of the polar owl (Nyctea scandiaca) and eagle owl (Bubo bubo) showed that the tooth enamel microrelief undergoes serious changes and therefore, provides no information on the intravital diet of voles. A different degree of preservation of the characteristics of the mesorelief was shown. Depending on this, an assessment of their applicability to paleoreconstructions was given.
Subject(s)
Arvicolinae/anatomy & histology , Dental Enamel/ultrastructure , Diet , Molar/anatomy & histology , Strigiformes/physiology , Animals , Arvicolinae/physiology , Feeding BehaviorABSTRACT
In 2010 (a year of drought), the true winter breeding (TWB) of the pygmy wood mouse (S. uralensis) was first recorded in the Southern Urals and confirmed by the morphological parameters and age markers. The young born in winter fulfilled successfully their reproductive potential under favorable climatic conditions. The true winter breeding and the age cross of animals during the year of drought promoted the maximum population growth and enhanced population genetic heterogeneity. In subsequent years, TWB of S. uralensis became common, which is regarded as a climatic pattern. Extreme drought rearranged the rodent community and caused TWB of S. uralensis, which resulted in a higher abundance of the species.
Subject(s)
Muridae/physiology , Reproduction , Seasons , Animals , Biomass , Female , Genetic Variation , Male , Muridae/geneticsABSTRACT
The vertebrate fauna from the cave deposits in Imanai Cave in the Southern Urals (53°02' N, 56°26'E) has been studied. It contains 715 bones that belonged to at least 11 individuals of fossil lion (Panthera (Leo) ex gr. fossilis-spelaea). It has been established that this is one of the largest Eurasian burial sites of fossil lions. The bones were accumulated due to the natural death of animals inside the cave. The age and sex estimations have shown that at least six adult males and five adult females died there. According to the accompanying fauna, radiocarbon, geochemical, and mineralogical analyses and archaeological finds, the interval of the lion bone accumulation is determined as the first half to middle of Late Pleistocene (OIS 5-3).
Subject(s)
Fossils/anatomy & histology , Lions/anatomy & histology , Animals , Bone and Bones/anatomy & histology , Caves , Female , MaleABSTRACT
The study deals with a new sample of the mammalian fossils from the Pleistocene deposits of the Ignatievskaya Cave in Southern Urals (54°53' N, 57°46' E). Among the rodent fossils, the teeth of red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula) have been identified. The enamel differentiation quotient (SDQ) of the water vole teeth matches the Arvicola terrestris species from locations of the end of Middle and Late Pleistocene (oxygen isotope stages, OIS 6 and OIS 5-2, respectively). The high SDQ value for the water vole and the presence of the squirrel and dormouse in the fauna allow dating the finding near the end of the Middle Pleistocene and beginning of the Late Pleistocene (OIS 6 and OIS 5e, respectively). The widespread open and forest landscapes were inhabited by this fauna.
Subject(s)
Fossils , Rodentia , Sciuridae , AnimalsABSTRACT
In the narrow-headed vole, enamel microwear of the first mandibular molar (of the protoconid and entoconid anterior enamel wall) was studied under the laboratory conditions and at the fixed feed composition. The classic parameters and the area of the enamel prism lesion were taken into account. The enamel lesion patterns caused by the tooth-tooth and tooth-food interactions have been determined. Differences were found between the voles kept on feed with different abrasive properties, as well as between the lingual and buccal conids of the first mandibular molar. In the Microtus species, the ratio of micro-lesions (pits and scratches) did not depend on the abrasive properties of the feed consumed. The extent of preservation of the enamel contour anterior edge depended on the feed composition and could be used as an indicator for indirect evaluation of the Microtus species diet.
Subject(s)
Arvicolinae/anatomy & histology , Molar/anatomy & histology , Tooth Wear , Animals , Arvicolinae/physiology , Diet , Feeding BehaviorABSTRACT
Morphotypic and morphometric analyses of the M2 tooth found in the Late Pleistocene deposits of the Ignatievskaya Cave (southern Urals) demonstrate that this tooth belongs to the dhole (Cuon alpinus Pallas, 1811). This is the first reliable evidence for the presence of the dhole in the Urals. Radiocarbon dating and associated theriofauna allow the tooth to be dated to the first half of the late Neopleistocene or, more precisely, to marine isotope stages (MISs) 3 and 4.
