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Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 14:161–175, Wien 2005 Cave Bears (Ursidae, Mammalia) from the Trojuholník Cave (Slovakia) Martin SABOL*) SABOL, M., 2005. Cave Bears (Ursidae, Mammalia) from the Trojuholník Cave (Slovakia). — Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 14:161–175, Wien. Abstract & HOLÚBEK, 1999) in a rock wall near northern end of the Prepadlé quarry (HOLEC et al., 1994) (fig. 2). The cave was Fossil remains of bears from the Trojuholník Cave in the named according to the shape of its triangular entrance Malé Karpaty Mts. have been analysed from the mor- (SILNICKÝ, 1949). Besides assemblage of fossil vertebrates phological, metric, and morphodynamic point of view. from the end of the Last Glacial and start of the Holocene They probably belong to the cave bear group (Ursus (HOLEC et al., 1994), the remains of cave bears have been spelaeus ROSENMÜLLER & HEINROTH, 1794) from the Mid- found here too (SILNICKÝ, 1949, 1950). dle Pleniglacial. Keywords: bears, Trojuholník Cave, Middle Plenigla- cial 2. Material and Methods K. SILNICKÝ (1949) has collected the fossil remains of bears Zusammenfassung in 1948 during excavations in the Trojuholník Cave. They are deposited as a part of the fossil vertebrate collections of Fossile Reste der Bären von Trojuholník Höhle in den Klei- the Slovak National Museum - Museum of Natural History nen Karpaten sind aus morphologischem, metrischem und (SNM-MNH) in Bratislava. From whole fossil material, 6 morphodynamischem Gesichtspunkt analysiert worden. isolated teeth, 7 skulls or their fragments and 15 mandibles Sie gehören wahrscheinlich zu der Höhlenbären Gruppe or their fragments were under study. (Ursus spelaeus ROSENMÜLLER & HEINROTH, 1794) aus dem Photos of fossils have been converted in the Corel-Photo Mittelpleniglacial. Paint 8 software. The measurements of studied ursid Schlüsselwörter: Bären, Trojuholník Cave, Mittelple- remains have been measured by standard method with niglacial callipers to 0.1 mm calibration precision. The standard deviation of measuring is 0.3 mm with 0.1 mm disper- sion and random error 4.2%. All measured data are in 1. Introduction millimetres. Terminology of main cusps on the tooth crowns is as fol- Fossil remains of mammals in cave deposits belong among lows - a designation ending with “-id” (e. g. protoconid) the most important records for the Quaternary stratigra- is used for cusps of lower teeth and ending with “-e” phy. Besides findings of micromammals, teeth and bones (e.g. protocone) for cusps of upper teeth. Ursid fossils of bears (especially cave bears) are the most frequently are classed to system according to MCKENNA & BELL found in caves. (1997). In the territory of Borinka Karst (Malé Karpaty Mts., Abbreviations: SNM-MNH (Slovak National Museum south-western Slovakia), some caves with records of – Museum of Natural History, Bratislava, Slovak Re- vertebrate fossils are situated (fig. 1). However, the most public). fossils have been found in the Trojuholník Cave. This cave is located near village of Borinka in the Malacky district. It is 35 m long, with opening 356 m above sea level (BELLA 3. Systematic Palaeontology Class: Mammalia LINNAEUS, 1758 Order: Carnivora BOWDICH, 1821 ) * DR. MARTIN SABOL, Department of Geology and Pa- Suborder: Caniformia KRETZOI, 1943 leontology, Faculty of Science, Comenius University, Infraorder: Arctoidea FLOWER, 1869 Mlynska dolina, SK-842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic, Parvorder: Ursida TEDFORD, 1976 e-mail: [email protected] Superfamily: Ursoidea FISCHER DE WALDHEIM, 1817 162 Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 14, Wien, 2005 0 1 2 3 km Figure 1: Location of the Tro- juholník Cave in the Borinka SpáleniskoSpalenisko Karst area (modified according 503 Volhovisko to HOLEC et al., 1994). 587 Z-796, Z-797, Z-802, Z-804, Z-805); 3 m3 dex. (Z-793, Stupavka Z-795, Z-800); 3 m3 sin. (Z- 792, Z-802, Z-805); 7 skulls TrojuholníkTrojuholnik Cave or their fragments (Z-452, Stupava Borinka Z-788, Z-790, Z-791, Z-794, Z-799, Z-801); 15 mandibles or their fragments (Z-789, Z-792, Z-793, Z-795, Z-796, Z-797, Z-798, Z-800, Z-802, Marianka Z-803, Z-804, Z-805, Z-806, Vydrica Z-807, Z-1001). ZahorskaZáhorská BystricaBystrica Hrabovina 3.2. Description 434 The light to brown crowns of RacaRača teeth are mostly undamaged, LamacLamač but slightly worn to abraded. Vinohrady Some teeth as well as skulls DúbravkaDubravka and lower jaws are covered by fine-grained fluvial gravel in the most cases. Whereas two distinct lobes, separated by a conspicuous notch, are situated on the lingual side of I2 sin, a strong S L O V A K I A cingulum is developed on the Bratislava same side of I3 sin. with vis- BRATISLAVA ible crest extending medio- laterally from its top. One of five upper canines Family: Ursidae FISCHER DE WALDHEIM, 1817 has preserved a distinct distal crest. Two upper canines and two lower ones belonged Genus: Ursus LINNAEUS, 1758 probably to female individuals. The morphology of the both upper and lower premolars is specified by the classification of these teeth to single Ursus spelaeus ROSENMÜLLER et HEINROTH, 1794 morphotypes, determined by RABEDER (1983, 1992). On figs. 3, 4, tab. 1–4 the basis of that, it is possible to determine morphotypes A/D, E, and probably B for three P4s (two other P4s from damaged skull (Z-788) represent probably morphotype A 3.1. Material and A/D, but their exact determination is not possible for reason of their covering by a sediment) and C1, D1, and 1 I2 sin. (Z-452); 1 I3 sin. (Z-452); 2 C sup. dex. (Z-809, probably C3 for four p4s (tab. 5a-c). P4/4 standardised Z-810); 3 C sup. sin. (Z-452, Z-788, Z-812); 1 c inf. dex. index is 73.10 (or 62.03 in the case, when all P4s are used (Z-800); 3 c inf. sin. (Z-796, Z-797, Z-808); 1 canine for analysis). fragment (Z-811); 3 P4 dex. (Z-452, Z-788, Z-794); 2 P4 An indication of accessory cusp at the back side of para- sin. (Z-452, Z-788); 1 p4 dex. (Z-813); 3 p4 sin. (Z-789, cone is present on the crown of one from six M1s, whereas Z-792, Z-804); 4 M1 dex. (Z-452, Z-788, Z-794, Z-801); an indication of accessory cusp in front of metacone is 2 M1 sin. (Z-452, Z-788); 4 M2 dex. (Z-452, Z-788, Z- present on the crown of three M1s. Anyway, a distinct crest 794, Z-801); 3 M2 sin. (Z-452, Z-788, Z-801); 2 m1 dex. on the metacone inner side is developed in one case too. (Z-795, Z-800); 4 m1 sin. (Z-789, Z-792, Z-797, Z-802); 3 The both parastyle and metastyle were always developed. m2 dex. (Z-795, Z-798, Z-800); 7 m2 sin. (Z-789, Z-792, Two molars have a undivided protocone and a distinct SABOL, M., Cave Bears (Ursidae, Mammalia) from … 163 Figure 2: The Trojuholník Cave. S1-3 – pits (modified according 350.34 to HOLEC et al., 1994). notch between the protocone and paracone is present on S-3 one molar. The mesocone (metaconule), mostly smaller than hypocone, is divided to two cusps in one case. Similar to the protocone, two molars have a undivided hypocone. 350.34 The central area of M1s is either smooth or humpy. Only lingual cingulum is devel- oped. S-2 The paracone of two from six M2s has developed a 349.22 small accessory cusp at the back. Accessory cusps are also present either in front or at the back of metacone, which is same large as the paracone in one case. A blunt cusp (metastyle) is developed 348.90 behind the metacone on the crowns of four molars and 349.67 four crests forming X-like S-1 shape on the inner side of 351.34 metacone are present in one case. Three molars have the 354.30 protocone divided to two parts and two ones have this cusp divided to three parts. 355.36 The front part is mostly the largest. In most cases, the 5 m metaconule is undivided and entrance with an accessory cusp at the back of one tooth. A distinct crest consisting of two cusps is developed between the metacone and metaconule in one case. While the hypocone do not coincided with acces- sory cusps at the back crown margin, it has a small cusp developed at the back. The The paraconid of m2s mostly coincides with other cusps on talon of four molars is rounded and pointed in one case. the anterior crown margin and one molar has not developed The central area is mostly humpy. The lingual cingulum this one of main cusps. The metaconid is divided to two is developed only. to five cusps, but it predominantly consists of three ones The paraconid of m1s is separated from the metaconid by (mesial metastylid, metaconid s. s., and distal metastylid). a small accessory cusp or a distinct notch. The metaconid The entmetaconid is developed as a crest or a distinct consists of two to three cusps, the last of which is always small cusp. Two cusps form the entoconid, rarely with an the largest. Two various cusps form the entoconid, with accessory cusp either behind the front cusp or behind the an accessory cusp in one case. Between the metaconid back one. The mesostylid is present in four cases only. and entoconid, one or two small accessory cusps are de- The protoconid as a distinct, but blunt cusp is developed veloped. The protoconid is undivided, with an indication at three molars only, rarely with an accessory cusp.