FAUNA OF SMALL VERTEBRATES (AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES AND MAMMALS) FROM NEAR-SURFACE DEPOSITS OF CAVE LOCALITIES IN THE VALLEY OF THE MIDDLE REACHES OF THE YURYUZAN RIVER (SOUTHERN URALS)

Abstract

When studying bone remains of small vertebrates from cave localities, the data obtained from the near-surface loose deposits of caves and grottoes are most often not considered due to a significant mixing of remains of different ages – recent, subrecent, Holocene and late Pleistocene. But according to a number of features – preservation, numerical quantity of remains, temporal and spatial distribution of the species defined in the layer, the material from the near-surface layers can be divided into groups of different ages and the time of accumulation of deposits can be established, which makes it possible to characterize in more detail the fauna of small vertebrates from cave localities. Bone remains of amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals from near-surface loose deposits of cave localities (Idrisovskaya Cave, Kazyrbak Cave, I1–20 Grotto, L1–20 Grotto, Grebnevaya Cave) of the middle reaches of the Yuryuzan River (Southern Urals) were studied. Using the species composition, ecological characteristics and abundance of species remains, it has been established that near-surface deposits of cave localities in the middle reaches of the Yuryuzan River contain bone remains of the Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene fauna of small mammals (Idrisovskaya Cave), Middle Holocene fauna of reptiles and small mammals (Kazyrbak Cave), Late Holocene forest–steppe fauna small mammals (I1–20 Grotto, L1–20 Grotto, Grebnevaya Сave). And in all localities, there is a subrecent forest fauna of amphibians, reptiles and small mammals.