Etruscan wolf Canis etruscus (Canidae, Carnivora) from the Early Pleistocene of Crimea (Taurida cave)

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Open Access Open Access
Restricted Access Access granted
Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Abstract

The cranial and mandibular fragments of the medium-sized canid from the Early Pleistocene locality of Taurida cave (about 1.8–1.5 Ma) in Crimea are described and included in the hypodigm of the species Canis etruscus Forsyth Major, 1877, a common member of the Late Villafranchian fauna of the Circum-Mediterranean region. This species is reported for the first time from the Northern Black Sea region. The discovered evidence reinforce previous published idea regarding the periodically use of the Taurida cave by canids and other large predators as a den and shelter.

Full Text

Restricted Access

About the authors

A. V. Lavrov

Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: djulfa250@rambler.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

M. V. Sotnikova

Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: djulfa250@rambler.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

D. O. Gimranov

Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: djulfa250@rambler.ru
Russian Federation, Yekaterinburg

J. Madurell-Malapeira

University of Florence

Email: djulfa250@rambler.ru

Earth Science Department

Italy, Florence

A. V. Lopatin

Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: djulfa250@rambler.ru

Academician of the RAS

Russian Federation, Moscow

References

  1. Лопатин А.В., Вислобокова И.А., Лавров А.В. и др. Пещера Таврида – новое местонахождение раннеплейстоценовых позвоночных в Крыму // Доклады Академии наук. 2019. Т. 485. № 3. С. 381–385.
  2. Лавров А.В., Хантемиров Д.Р., Гимранов Д.О., Лопатин А.В. Chasmaporthetes lunensis (Hyaenidae, Carnivora) из раннего плейстоцена Крыма // Доклады Российской академии наук. Науки о жизни. 2022. Т. 507. С. 441–444.
  3. Gimranov D., Lavrov A., Prat-Vericat M. et al. Ursus etruscus from the late Early Pleistocene of the Taurida cave (Crimean Peninsula) // Historical Biology. 2023. V. 35. № 6. P. 843–856.
  4. Гимранов Д.О., Цзянцзуо Ц., Лавров А.В., Лопатин А.В. Mustela strandi (Mustelidae, Carnivora) из раннего плейстоцена Крыма // Доклады Российской академии наук. Науки о жизни. 2023. Т. 513. С. 528–532.
  5. Оксиненко П.В., Лавров А.В. История формирования пещеры Таврида – памятника фауны позвоночных позднего виллафранка и ее палеонтологическое значение // Вестник МГУ. Сер. 5. Геогр. 2021. № 1. С. 27–42.
  6. Azzaroli A. Quaternary mammals and the “end-Villafranchian” dispersal event – a turning point in the history of Eurasia // Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 1983. V. 44. № 1–2. P. 117–139.
  7. Martínez-Navarro B. Early Pleistocene faunas of Eurasia and hominin dispersals. In: Out of Africa I: The first hominin colonization of Eurasia / Eds Fleagle J.G., Shea J.J., Grine F.E. et al. Dordrecht: Springer, 2010. P. 207–224.
  8. Iannucci A., Mecozzi B., Sardella R. Beware of the “Wolf event” – remarks on large mammal dispersals in Europe and the Late Villafranchian faunal turnover // Alpine and Mediterranean Quaternary. 2023. V. 36. № 1. P. 75–90.
  9. Brugal J.-P., Boudadi-Maligne M. Quaternary small to large canids in Europe: taxonomic status and biochronological contribution // Quaternary International. 2011. V. 243. № 1. P. 171–182. https://doi.org/10.3390/quat1010006
  10. Koufos G.D. New material and revision of the Carnivora, Mammalia from the Lower Pleistocene locality Apollonia 1, Greece // Quaternary. 2018. V. 1. № 1. Art. 6. P. 1–38.
  11. Torre D. I cani villafranchiani della Toscana // Palaeontographia Italica. 1967. V. 63. P. 113–138.
  12. Tedford R.H., Wang X., Taylor B.E. Phylogenetic systematics of the North American fossil Caninae (Carnivora: Canidae) // Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 2009. № 325. P. 1–218.
  13. Sotnikova M.V. Remains of Canidae from the Lower Pleistocene site of Untermassfeld // Monographien des Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum. 2001. V. 40. P. 607–632.
  14. Del Campana D. I cani pliocenici di Toscana // Palaeontographia Italica. 1913. V. 19. P. 189–254.
  15. Sotnikova M., Rook L. Dispersal of the Canini (Mammalia, Canidae: Caninae) across Eurasia during the Late Miocene to Early Pleistocene // Quaternary International. 2010. V. 212. № 2. P. 86–97.
  16. Cherin M., Bertè D.F., Rook L., Sardella R. Re-defining Canis etruscus (Canidae, Mammalia): a new look into the evolutionary history of Early Pleistocene dogs resulting from the outstanding fossil record from Pantalla (Italy) // Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 2014. V. 21. P. 95–110.
  17. Bartolini Lucenti S., Rook L. A review on the Late Villafranchian medium-sized canid Canis arnensis based on the evidence from Poggio Rosso (Tuscany, Italy) // Quaternary Science Reviews. 2016. V. 151. P. 58–71.
  18. Bartolini Lucenti S., Bukhsianidze M., Martínez-Navarro B., Lordkipanidze D. The wolf from Dmanisi and augmented reality: review, implications, and opportunities // Frontiers of Earth Science. 2020. V. 8. Art. 131. P. 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00131
  19. Martínez-Navarro B., Bartolini Lucenti S., Palmqvist P. et al. A new species of dog from the Early Pleistocene site of Venta Micena (Orce, Baza Basin, Spain) // Comptes Rendus Palevol. 2021. V. 20. Art. 17. P. 297–314.

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download
2. Fig. 1. Canis etruscus Forsyth Major, 1877: a, b – copies. PIN, No. 5644/347, right maxillary bone with P4–M1, C1–P3 and M2 alveoli: a – on the buccal side; b – on the occlusal side; c, d – ex. PIN, No. 5644/348, right maxillary bone with P4 and M2, alveoli C1–P3 and M1: b – from the buccal side; d – from the occlusal side; Russia, Crimea, Taurida cave; Lower Pleistocene. Designations: 1 – the suborbital foramen; 2 – the alveolus of the caudal (fourth) root M2.

Download (437KB)
Indexing metadata
3. Fig. 2. Canis etruscus Forsyth Major, 1877, ex. PIN, No. 5644/349, the right branch of the mandible body with p3–m3 and c1–p2 alveoli: a – from the buccal side; b – from the lingual side; c – from the occlusal side; d – p4–m3 from the occlusal side; Russia, Crimea, Taurida cave; Lower Pleistocene. Designations: 1 – the first additional tubercle p4; 2 – the second additional tubercle p4; 3 – protostylide m1; 4 – mesoconide m1; 5 – hypocristide (transversal ridge) m1; 6 – entoconide m2; 7 – metaconide m3.

Download (274KB)
Indexing metadata

Copyright (c) 2024 Russian Academy of Sciences