The presence of Ursus ex gr. minimus-thibetanus in the Late Villányian and its position among the Pliocene and Pleistocene black bears in Europe
2011
Abstract
A revision of the currently available mandibular and dental material of bears from the Late Villányian locality Villany 3 (Hungary) is provided. The presence of 2 bear species, Ursus cf. gr. etruscus and Ursus ex. gr. minimus-thibetanus, is proved in this locality.
In its morphometric features, the latter is not supposed to be an autochthonous descendent of U. minimus but represents an independent migration event from Asia. Based on the critical revision/review of published material/data referred to black bears, the only positive record of their representatives in the Pleistocene of Europe is now available in the Late Villányian and since the Early Toringian.