Capreolus capreolus ( Linnaeus, 1758 )

Marciszak, A, Stefaniak, K & Gornig, W, 2017, Large mammals (carnivores, artiodactyls) from Solna Jama Cave (Bystrzyckie Mts, Southwestern Poland) in the context of faunal changes in the postglacial period of Central Europe, Palaeontologia Electronica (Bellingham, Wash.) 11 (4), pp. 1-37 : 20

Capreolus capreolus ( Linnaeus, 1758)

Figure 14

Specimens. Damaged phalanx II (JSJ/Cca/1), damaged phalanx III (JSJ/Cca/2).

Measurements. Phalanx II (JSJ/Cca/1): L, 25.93 mm; pl, 12.84 mm; pB, 9.20 mm; mB, 6.94 mm; dL, 10.23 mm; dB, 6.81 mm.

Remarks. The second phalanx was found on the bottom of the main chamber and the third from the lower niche, situated just behind the “Wolverine Niche”. The state of preservation indicated that phalanx II was older than phalanx III, which looked quite fresh. In its size and proportions phalanx II from the postglacial/Holocene sediments of Solna Jama Cave is similar to those from other Holocene sites ( Figure 14 ). The specimen is quite long, but narrow, and is within the lower part of variation range of the recent forms. The largest and most massive phalanges are those of the middle Pleistocene Ca. capreolus from Kozi Grzbiet (MIS 18 – 17, classified as Ca. suessenbornensis ) and from Miesenheim I (MIS 13, regarded as Ca. priscus ). Stratigraphically younger specimens, dated as late middle and late Pleistocene as nearly as large, but not so robust. Postglacial and Holocene individuals varied widely in size, and on average are more gracile ( Figure 14 ). However, the scanty data do not allow a broader discussion, and it can be only cautiously said that, like the other skeletal elements, also phalanges confirmed to the gradual size decrease since the middle Pleistocene till the Holocene ( Stefaniak, 2015).

The information on the fossil ungulate fauna from Lower Silesia is very scanty. The remains come from cave and open sites, excavated before and after WWII ( Wiśniewski et al. 2009). Capreolus capreolus was mentioned from Radochowska Cave (Złote Mts) by Frenzel (1936, 1937) and from Cisowe 1 and 2 Rock Shelter by Zotz (1937a, 1937b, 1939) ( Bieroński et al., 2007, 2009b). Bieroński et al. (2007) and Wiśniewski et al. (2009) confirmed its occurrence in two rock shelters on Miłek Hill: Trwoga Paleontologa and Małgorzaty Rock Shelters, dated as Atlantic period. Wiszniowska (1989) mentioned few remains from a corridor called “Korytarz Człowieka Pierwotnego” in Niedźwiedzia Cave near Kletno ( Bieroński et al., 2009a). Finally, Rogala et al. (1998) provided a brief description of right mandible, found in Pod Torami Cave near Ołdrzychowice Kłodzkie. All these records are dated as postglacial or Holocene age, while in the Sudetes finds of Pleistocene age are unknown. Because of the lack of absolute dates, like C14 AMS or UTh, and the scanty fossil material nothing or very little can be said about the time of re-colonisation of the Sudetes by Ca. capreolus .

Figures

FIGURE 14. Scatter diagram showing the ratio of total length to proximal epiphysis breadth in late pleistocene-holocene Capreolus capreolus phalanx II. Middle Pleistocene locality: Kozi Grzbiet and Miesenheim 1. Late middle and late Pleistocene locality: Weimar Ehringsdorf, Biśnik Cave, Chlupáč Cave and Deszczowa Cave. Postglacial and Holocene locality: Biśnik Cave (uppermost layers), Jasna Strzegowska Cave and Poland in general. Data from Stefaniak (2015) and references therein.