The common weasel Mustela nivalis L., 1766 from Sarakenos Cave (Greece) and the difficulty to distinguish small mustelid species in the fossil record
Journal Title: Acta zoologica cracoviensia - Year 2016, Vol 59, Issue 1
Abstract
The common weasel Mustela nivalis is the only carnivore found in trench A of Sarakenos Cave. It is represented by three male mandibles of robust build and very large size, two dated at the Late Pleistocene and one from a Mesolithic layer. Metrically and morphologically they are indistinguishable from the southern, large weasels: Mustela nivalis boccamela and Mustela nivalis numidica. The results exclude the occurrence of stoat Mustela erminea, the only species which can be mistaken for the weasel. In the Pleistocene the common weasel receded far to the south (as far as Egypt, where a relict population survives), and today it is restricted to northern Lebanon and Syria. Mustela nivalis is widespread in the Mediterranean, where it was introduced by man on many islands.
Authors and Affiliations
Adrian Marciszak
Keywords
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- EP ID EP194582
- DOI 10.3409/azc.59_1.25
- Views 69
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