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First record of Dicrostonyx (Rodentia, Mammalia) in the Late Pleistocene/?Holocene sediments of Croatia

The fossil remains of lemmings (Dicrostonyx sp.) have been discovered for the first time in Croatia. The small sample of 11 teeth (M1-3 and M1) originate from the Late Pleistocene/?Holocene sediments from the Romualdova pećina site (Western Istria). The resemblance has been observed in morphological data, while some metrical parameters differ slightly in comparison to the findings from some other European localities, for example from Poland, Austria and France. The length mean values of M1s from Croatian sample is higher than Austrian (Nixloch and Merkenstein Caves), and French (Bois Roche site) ones, while is the same like in specimens from Polish Late Glacial, but smaller than the Polish Holocene findings, respectively. The differences in A/L and C/W1 indices have been also observed between samples from the Romualdova pećina and Polish samples of the Late Glacial and Holocene age. As good indicator of cold and dry climate, the lemmings from the Romualdova pećina give support to the conclusion that this part of Europe was refugial region for this and some other small mammal species during the expansions of the ice cover, and reflect Quaternary environmental fluctuations, which were frequent and pronounced at the end of this period.

lemming; Dicrostonyx; molars; morphometric analyses; Late Pleistocene; Romualdova pećina; cave; Croatia

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