A skeleton of a male Mammuthus trogontherii cf. chosaricus is described from Chernyi Yar (Lower V... more A skeleton of a male Mammuthus trogontherii cf. chosaricus is described from Chernyi Yar (Lower Volga Region), the type locality of this subspecies. The skeleton was discovered and excavated from clays of the Singil regional straton in 1996. The geological age of the enclosing sediments is estimated as the terminal Middle Pleistocene and correlated with MIS 7 – MIS 6. The individual age of the animal is estimated as 57–62 years. The calculated shoulder height of the skeleton is 312 cm. Morphological differences from other forms of Mammuthus and Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) are discussed. The distinctions of dental and postcranial characters of M. trogontherii cf. chosaricus, M. trogontherii trogontherii, and M. intermedius are reviewed. A diagnosis of the subspecies M. t. chosaricus is refined.
—Remains of fishes, turtles, birds, and mammals are described from the Upper Miocene (MN13) Shkod... more —Remains of fishes, turtles, birds, and mammals are described from the Upper Miocene (MN13) Shkodova Gora locality (Ukraine, Odessa Region), the only representative locality of Pontian large vertebrates in the northwestern Black Sea Region. Asiatic fish and avian taxa are recorded for the first time in the Upper Miocene of Europe. The Shkodova Gora ichthyofauna includes eight freshwater fish species (belonging to Acipenseridae, Cyprinidae, Siluridae, and Percidae). Taxa that have previously been recorded only in Western Siberia (Abramis bliccoides, Perca lepidopoma), eastern Kazakhstan, and the Altai Mountain (Rutilus tungurukensis) are revealed. Acipenser gueldenstaedtii is recorded for the first time in the Upper Miocene of Eastern Europe. The occurrence of the genus Ctenopharyngodon, a member of the Chinese plain faunal assemblage is of great interest. The Shkodova Gora avifauna (seven taxa) is mostly composed of waterfowl, including Phalacrocorax mongoliensis, which has previously been known only from the Lower Pliocene of Mongolia. The finding of Proanser major is the youngest record of this species in the fossil record. Mammals of the Shkodova Gora association include a hare resembling Trischizolagus dumitrescuae, Palaeoryx cf. pallasi, and Hipparion cf. moldavicum, which have not been mentioned among Pontian taxa of the northern Black Sea Region. Pontian paleolandscapes in the area of the Shkodova Gora locality are reconstructed.
An integrated study of the loess–soil sequence in the coastal exposure near the settlement of Beg... more An integrated study of the loess–soil sequence in the coastal exposure near the settlement of Beg-litsa (Rostov oblast) allowed us, for the first time, to reconstruct the landscape-climatic changes that occurred in the eastern Azov region over the course of the Late Pleistocene. In the south of the periglacial zone, considerable differences between intensity of the loess accumulation in the Early and Late Valdai Cryochrons were revealed. In the Early Valdai Epoch, which corresponds roughly to the end of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 and MIS 4, loess accumulation occurred after completion of development of the Mezin pedo-complex and before the beginning of the Bryansk stage of soil development, i.e., over more than 20 000 years. In the much shorter Late Valdai Cryochron MIS 2 (10 000–12 000 years), loess accumulation reached 5 m. The data evaluation shows that the loess accumulation rates in the Early Valdai Epoch (~0.07 mm/year) and the Late Valdai Epoch (~0.5 mm/year) differ from each other by an order of magnitude.
Based on study of a series of early generations' teeth DP4/dp4 e M1/m1 of elephants from the Late... more Based on study of a series of early generations' teeth DP4/dp4 e M1/m1 of elephants from the Late VillafranchianeEarly Galerian locality Sinyaya Balka/Bogatyri (Taman peninsula, Russia) the variability of their characteristics is established. There is no clear normal distribution of main diagnostic dental parameters in the sample. This confirms the assumption of the possible presence of two elephant taxa in the structure of Taman Faunistic complex from south Eastern Europe, which was made earlier on the basis of the M3 teeth. The main part of the collection is represented by remains of the late meridionaloid elephant subspecies Archidiskodon meridionalis tamanensis, typical for late Early Pleistocene of Eastern Europe and neighboring regions. Individual specimens of the sample may refer to other form of elephants with similar morphological teeth characteristics, probably to Phanogoroloxodon mammonthoides. Though the lesser diagnosticity of early generation teeth in comparison with the M3/m3, it was found that they can be used when determining the taxonomic forms of elephants, even for the meridionaloid elephant subspecies.
We studied a series of teeth DP4/dp4 – M1/m1 of chronologically successive subspecies of southern... more We studied a series of teeth DP4/dp4 – M1/m1 of chronologically successive subspecies of southern elephant Archidiskodon meridionalis from the Paleopleistocene (the Middle Villafranchian) localities of the North-Eastern Sea of Azov Region (Liventsovka, Khapry, Kobyakova Balka, Mokriy Chaltyr, 49 specimens), as well as the Eopleistocene (Calabrian) sites from the Taman Peninsula (Sinaya Balka / Bogatyri, Tsimbal, 65 specimens). The limits of variability of their morphological characteristics were established. Despite the lesser diagnosticity of these teeth’ generations in comparison with the M3/m3, it was determined that they could be used for determining of their taxonomic belonging, even for the chronological subspecies of meridionaloid elephant. An analysis of the characteristics of the teeth of both samples indicated that there is no clear bimodal distribution of the main diagnostic characteristics (the lamellar frequency, the length of a single plate, the number of plates, enamel thickness, and hypsodonty index). This assumes the presence of impurity in the bulk of the finds of more numerous southern elephant of separate finds of another taxon with similar dental characteristics, probably, Phanogoroloxodon mammonthoides, which also inhabited Eastern Europe in the Early Pleistocene. The parameter of а single plate length is very diagnosticity-applicable for the investigated teeth. Outer dimensions of the teeth crown of the early and late subspecies largely overlap. However, the hypsodonty index of A. m. tamanensis teeth is higher than the one of more ancient A. m. gromovi, on average. The number of enamel plates on the teeth of A. m. gromovi, on average, is less by one, in comparison with A. m. tamanensis. The upper teeth are more applicable for determination of an evolutionary level of the character of elephants’ taxa.
The discovery of the Early Pleistocene sites of Bogatyri/Sinyaya Balka and Rodniki 1 on the Taman... more The discovery of the Early Pleistocene sites of Bogatyri/Sinyaya Balka and Rodniki 1 on the Taman Peninsula in western Ciscaucasia led to the recognition of a distinctive “Tamanian industry”, with a timerange of 1.6e1.2 Ma, and with characteristics that are transitional between Oldowan and Acheulean (“Archaic Acheulean”). The site of Kermek was discovered by V.E. Shchelinsky in 2008 during investigation of the older Lower Pleistocene sediments exposed in the coastal cliff of the Sea of Azov in the vicinity of previously studied sites. In this paper, we present preliminary data from a multidisciplinary study of the Early Pleistocene site of Kermek, situated near to the sites of Bogatyri/Sinyaya Balka and Rodniki 1, but which is significantly older. This site is connected with a well-studied Early Pleistocene (late Kujalnikian) fluviatile-shallow marine sequence. These reverse magnetized deposits are characterized by freshwater and brackish water mollusks (with Dreissena theodori), and by a small mammal fauna (with Allophaiomys deucalion), and are dated to the latest Gelasian or early Calabrian ca. 2.1e1.8 Ma. The lithic industry from the site can be attributed to the Classic Oldowan but with distinctive local features that include indications of “advanced technologies” such as the manufacture of large flakes and picks. In this respect, this industry is assumed to have been a genetic precursor of the later Early Pleistocene Tamanian industry, which has a well pronounced Acheulean component.
A new deer species, Megaloceros stavropolensis sp. nov., from the pre-Apsheronian sandy–clayey de... more A new deer species, Megaloceros stavropolensis sp. nov., from the pre-Apsheronian sandy–clayey deltaic deposits of the Georgievsk sand pit (village of Podgornoe, Stavropol Region) is described. The fauna of large and small mammals from the bone beds of this locality is dated terminal Villanian, end of the MNQ 17 Zone, beginning of the Late Villafranchian, and assigned to the beginning of the Psekups Mammalian Assemblage. This is the earliest known member of the genus, which possesses antlers with well-developed palmation. The middle tine is absent and the posterior tine is a part of the antler palmation. Other specimens of Early Pleistocene Megaloceros are represented by fragments.
Описан новый вид оленя Megaloceros stavropolensis из песчано-глинистых дельтовых отложений доапше... more Описан новый вид оленя Megaloceros stavropolensis из песчано-глинистых дельтовых отложений доапшеронского возраста Георгиевского песчаного карьера (с. Подгорное, Ставропольский край). Фауна крупных и мелких млекопитающих из костеносных слоев данного местонахождения относится к концу виллания, концу зоны MNQ 17, началу позднего виллафранка, и к началу псекупского териокомплекса. Это наиболее ранний из известных представителей рода, обладавший рогами с хорошо развитой лопатой. Средний отросток отсутствует, а задний отросток входит в состав лопаты рога. Находки других раннеплейстоценовых Megaloceros представлены фрагментами.
2012) охватывает временной ин-тервал от 2,588 до 0,781 млн лет и включает два яру-са – гелазий (2... more 2012) охватывает временной ин-тервал от 2,588 до 0,781 млн лет и включает два яру-са – гелазий (2,588–1,806) и калабрий (1,806–0,781). В отечественной Общей стратиграфической шкале МСК верхней части этого интервала отвечает эо-плейстоцен (1,806–0,781), статус нижней части пока формально не определен. Значение фауны млекопитающих для стратиграфии континенталь-ных отложений средних широт Евразии было про-демонстрировано В.И. Громовым, Э.А. Вангенгейм и многими другими исследователями. Было предло-жено несколько подходов. В основе классического – выделение биостратиграфических подразделений комплексного обоcнования. На этом принципе основаны комплексы млекопитающих В.И. Громова. При этом ведущую роль в характеристике комплек-сов принадлежит хроновидам/подвидам слонов мамонтовой линии (Вангенгейм, Певзнер, 2001; Байгушева и др., 2012; Baigusheva, Titov, 2012). В рас-сматриваемом раннеплейстоценовом интервале вы-деляется три комплекса – хапровский, псекупский и таманский (Титов, 2008; Те...
A skeleton of a male Mammuthus trogontherii cf. chosaricus is described from Chernyi Yar (Lower V... more A skeleton of a male Mammuthus trogontherii cf. chosaricus is described from Chernyi Yar (Lower Volga Region), the type locality of this subspecies. The skeleton was discovered and excavated from clays of the Singil regional straton in 1996. The geological age of the enclosing sediments is estimated as the terminal Middle Pleistocene and correlated with MIS 7 – MIS 6. The individual age of the animal is estimated as 57–62 years. The calculated shoulder height of the skeleton is 312 cm. Morphological differences from other forms of Mammuthus and Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) are discussed. The distinctions of dental and postcranial characters of M. trogontherii cf. chosaricus, M. trogontherii trogontherii, and M. intermedius are reviewed. A diagnosis of the subspecies M. t. chosaricus is refined.
—Remains of fishes, turtles, birds, and mammals are described from the Upper Miocene (MN13) Shkod... more —Remains of fishes, turtles, birds, and mammals are described from the Upper Miocene (MN13) Shkodova Gora locality (Ukraine, Odessa Region), the only representative locality of Pontian large vertebrates in the northwestern Black Sea Region. Asiatic fish and avian taxa are recorded for the first time in the Upper Miocene of Europe. The Shkodova Gora ichthyofauna includes eight freshwater fish species (belonging to Acipenseridae, Cyprinidae, Siluridae, and Percidae). Taxa that have previously been recorded only in Western Siberia (Abramis bliccoides, Perca lepidopoma), eastern Kazakhstan, and the Altai Mountain (Rutilus tungurukensis) are revealed. Acipenser gueldenstaedtii is recorded for the first time in the Upper Miocene of Eastern Europe. The occurrence of the genus Ctenopharyngodon, a member of the Chinese plain faunal assemblage is of great interest. The Shkodova Gora avifauna (seven taxa) is mostly composed of waterfowl, including Phalacrocorax mongoliensis, which has previously been known only from the Lower Pliocene of Mongolia. The finding of Proanser major is the youngest record of this species in the fossil record. Mammals of the Shkodova Gora association include a hare resembling Trischizolagus dumitrescuae, Palaeoryx cf. pallasi, and Hipparion cf. moldavicum, which have not been mentioned among Pontian taxa of the northern Black Sea Region. Pontian paleolandscapes in the area of the Shkodova Gora locality are reconstructed.
An integrated study of the loess–soil sequence in the coastal exposure near the settlement of Beg... more An integrated study of the loess–soil sequence in the coastal exposure near the settlement of Beg-litsa (Rostov oblast) allowed us, for the first time, to reconstruct the landscape-climatic changes that occurred in the eastern Azov region over the course of the Late Pleistocene. In the south of the periglacial zone, considerable differences between intensity of the loess accumulation in the Early and Late Valdai Cryochrons were revealed. In the Early Valdai Epoch, which corresponds roughly to the end of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 and MIS 4, loess accumulation occurred after completion of development of the Mezin pedo-complex and before the beginning of the Bryansk stage of soil development, i.e., over more than 20 000 years. In the much shorter Late Valdai Cryochron MIS 2 (10 000–12 000 years), loess accumulation reached 5 m. The data evaluation shows that the loess accumulation rates in the Early Valdai Epoch (~0.07 mm/year) and the Late Valdai Epoch (~0.5 mm/year) differ from each other by an order of magnitude.
Based on study of a series of early generations' teeth DP4/dp4 e M1/m1 of elephants from the Late... more Based on study of a series of early generations' teeth DP4/dp4 e M1/m1 of elephants from the Late VillafranchianeEarly Galerian locality Sinyaya Balka/Bogatyri (Taman peninsula, Russia) the variability of their characteristics is established. There is no clear normal distribution of main diagnostic dental parameters in the sample. This confirms the assumption of the possible presence of two elephant taxa in the structure of Taman Faunistic complex from south Eastern Europe, which was made earlier on the basis of the M3 teeth. The main part of the collection is represented by remains of the late meridionaloid elephant subspecies Archidiskodon meridionalis tamanensis, typical for late Early Pleistocene of Eastern Europe and neighboring regions. Individual specimens of the sample may refer to other form of elephants with similar morphological teeth characteristics, probably to Phanogoroloxodon mammonthoides. Though the lesser diagnosticity of early generation teeth in comparison with the M3/m3, it was found that they can be used when determining the taxonomic forms of elephants, even for the meridionaloid elephant subspecies.
We studied a series of teeth DP4/dp4 – M1/m1 of chronologically successive subspecies of southern... more We studied a series of teeth DP4/dp4 – M1/m1 of chronologically successive subspecies of southern elephant Archidiskodon meridionalis from the Paleopleistocene (the Middle Villafranchian) localities of the North-Eastern Sea of Azov Region (Liventsovka, Khapry, Kobyakova Balka, Mokriy Chaltyr, 49 specimens), as well as the Eopleistocene (Calabrian) sites from the Taman Peninsula (Sinaya Balka / Bogatyri, Tsimbal, 65 specimens). The limits of variability of their morphological characteristics were established. Despite the lesser diagnosticity of these teeth’ generations in comparison with the M3/m3, it was determined that they could be used for determining of their taxonomic belonging, even for the chronological subspecies of meridionaloid elephant. An analysis of the characteristics of the teeth of both samples indicated that there is no clear bimodal distribution of the main diagnostic characteristics (the lamellar frequency, the length of a single plate, the number of plates, enamel thickness, and hypsodonty index). This assumes the presence of impurity in the bulk of the finds of more numerous southern elephant of separate finds of another taxon with similar dental characteristics, probably, Phanogoroloxodon mammonthoides, which also inhabited Eastern Europe in the Early Pleistocene. The parameter of а single plate length is very diagnosticity-applicable for the investigated teeth. Outer dimensions of the teeth crown of the early and late subspecies largely overlap. However, the hypsodonty index of A. m. tamanensis teeth is higher than the one of more ancient A. m. gromovi, on average. The number of enamel plates on the teeth of A. m. gromovi, on average, is less by one, in comparison with A. m. tamanensis. The upper teeth are more applicable for determination of an evolutionary level of the character of elephants’ taxa.
The discovery of the Early Pleistocene sites of Bogatyri/Sinyaya Balka and Rodniki 1 on the Taman... more The discovery of the Early Pleistocene sites of Bogatyri/Sinyaya Balka and Rodniki 1 on the Taman Peninsula in western Ciscaucasia led to the recognition of a distinctive “Tamanian industry”, with a timerange of 1.6e1.2 Ma, and with characteristics that are transitional between Oldowan and Acheulean (“Archaic Acheulean”). The site of Kermek was discovered by V.E. Shchelinsky in 2008 during investigation of the older Lower Pleistocene sediments exposed in the coastal cliff of the Sea of Azov in the vicinity of previously studied sites. In this paper, we present preliminary data from a multidisciplinary study of the Early Pleistocene site of Kermek, situated near to the sites of Bogatyri/Sinyaya Balka and Rodniki 1, but which is significantly older. This site is connected with a well-studied Early Pleistocene (late Kujalnikian) fluviatile-shallow marine sequence. These reverse magnetized deposits are characterized by freshwater and brackish water mollusks (with Dreissena theodori), and by a small mammal fauna (with Allophaiomys deucalion), and are dated to the latest Gelasian or early Calabrian ca. 2.1e1.8 Ma. The lithic industry from the site can be attributed to the Classic Oldowan but with distinctive local features that include indications of “advanced technologies” such as the manufacture of large flakes and picks. In this respect, this industry is assumed to have been a genetic precursor of the later Early Pleistocene Tamanian industry, which has a well pronounced Acheulean component.
A new deer species, Megaloceros stavropolensis sp. nov., from the pre-Apsheronian sandy–clayey de... more A new deer species, Megaloceros stavropolensis sp. nov., from the pre-Apsheronian sandy–clayey deltaic deposits of the Georgievsk sand pit (village of Podgornoe, Stavropol Region) is described. The fauna of large and small mammals from the bone beds of this locality is dated terminal Villanian, end of the MNQ 17 Zone, beginning of the Late Villafranchian, and assigned to the beginning of the Psekups Mammalian Assemblage. This is the earliest known member of the genus, which possesses antlers with well-developed palmation. The middle tine is absent and the posterior tine is a part of the antler palmation. Other specimens of Early Pleistocene Megaloceros are represented by fragments.
Описан новый вид оленя Megaloceros stavropolensis из песчано-глинистых дельтовых отложений доапше... more Описан новый вид оленя Megaloceros stavropolensis из песчано-глинистых дельтовых отложений доапшеронского возраста Георгиевского песчаного карьера (с. Подгорное, Ставропольский край). Фауна крупных и мелких млекопитающих из костеносных слоев данного местонахождения относится к концу виллания, концу зоны MNQ 17, началу позднего виллафранка, и к началу псекупского териокомплекса. Это наиболее ранний из известных представителей рода, обладавший рогами с хорошо развитой лопатой. Средний отросток отсутствует, а задний отросток входит в состав лопаты рога. Находки других раннеплейстоценовых Megaloceros представлены фрагментами.
2012) охватывает временной ин-тервал от 2,588 до 0,781 млн лет и включает два яру-са – гелазий (2... more 2012) охватывает временной ин-тервал от 2,588 до 0,781 млн лет и включает два яру-са – гелазий (2,588–1,806) и калабрий (1,806–0,781). В отечественной Общей стратиграфической шкале МСК верхней части этого интервала отвечает эо-плейстоцен (1,806–0,781), статус нижней части пока формально не определен. Значение фауны млекопитающих для стратиграфии континенталь-ных отложений средних широт Евразии было про-демонстрировано В.И. Громовым, Э.А. Вангенгейм и многими другими исследователями. Было предло-жено несколько подходов. В основе классического – выделение биостратиграфических подразделений комплексного обоcнования. На этом принципе основаны комплексы млекопитающих В.И. Громова. При этом ведущую роль в характеристике комплек-сов принадлежит хроновидам/подвидам слонов мамонтовой линии (Вангенгейм, Певзнер, 2001; Байгушева и др., 2012; Baigusheva, Titov, 2012). В рас-сматриваемом раннеплейстоценовом интервале вы-деляется три комплекса – хапровский, псекупский и таманский (Титов, 2008; Те...
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In this paper, we present preliminary data from a multidisciplinary study of the Early Pleistocene site of Kermek, situated near to the sites of Bogatyri/Sinyaya Balka and Rodniki 1, but which is significantly older. This site is connected with a well-studied Early Pleistocene (late Kujalnikian) fluviatile-shallow marine sequence. These reverse magnetized deposits are characterized by freshwater and brackish water mollusks (with Dreissena theodori), and by a small mammal fauna (with Allophaiomys deucalion), and are dated to the latest Gelasian or early Calabrian ca. 2.1e1.8 Ma. The lithic industry from the site can be attributed to the Classic Oldowan but with distinctive local features that include indications of “advanced technologies” such as the manufacture of large flakes and picks. In this respect, this industry is assumed to have been a genetic precursor of the later Early Pleistocene Tamanian industry, which has a well pronounced Acheulean component.
In this paper, we present preliminary data from a multidisciplinary study of the Early Pleistocene site of Kermek, situated near to the sites of Bogatyri/Sinyaya Balka and Rodniki 1, but which is significantly older. This site is connected with a well-studied Early Pleistocene (late Kujalnikian) fluviatile-shallow marine sequence. These reverse magnetized deposits are characterized by freshwater and brackish water mollusks (with Dreissena theodori), and by a small mammal fauna (with Allophaiomys deucalion), and are dated to the latest Gelasian or early Calabrian ca. 2.1e1.8 Ma. The lithic industry from the site can be attributed to the Classic Oldowan but with distinctive local features that include indications of “advanced technologies” such as the manufacture of large flakes and picks. In this respect, this industry is assumed to have been a genetic precursor of the later Early Pleistocene Tamanian industry, which has a well pronounced Acheulean component.