New data on Late Pleistocene–Holocene small mammal communities from the Ural–Sakmara interfluve, Southern Urals

Abstract

The paper deals with new fossil material, about 9400 cheek teeth, from 24 elementary samples received from loose deposits of 2 karst cavities – Chernorechka and Chernorechka-2, and 2 rock shelters – Verbluzhka-1 and Verbluzhka-2 located in the Ural–Sakmara interfluve (at about 51°N). One small lagomorph taxon (Lagomorpha) and 30 rodent taxons (Rodentia) were determined from which 4 taxon doesn't inhabit investigated territory nowadays: Eolagurus luteus, Pygeretmus pumilio and Pygeretmus sp., for Eliomys quercinus marked the most southern-east point in the area history. Nine stages of the community's development were marked out. The domination of Lagurus lagurus, Eolagurus luteus and Microtus gregalis from the most ancient community concerned it to typical Late Pleistocene steppe type of communities described from the adjacent South Trans-Urals territories. The Holocene time interval is marked by the domination of Ellobius talpinus and Microtus ex gr. arvalis as well as yellow steppe lemming in the community core (four stages). Then in the core composition appeared Sicista sp. and Cricetus cricetus (four stages) and small mammal communities obtained the mesophilous look. The increasing of xerophilous elements in the last centuries and dozen years reflected regional peculiarities of modern steppe conditions in the south extremity of the Ural mountains.