Pliocene vertebrates from Ivanovce and Hajnáčka (Slovakia). XI. Fossil record of porcupines (Hystricidae) from Ivanovce
2022
Abstract
The fossil record of porcupines (Hystricidae) from the early Pliocene (Late Ruscinian, MN15) and early Pleistocene (Biharian, MQ1) karstic deposits of the Ivanovce primate site is de-scribed and discussed from taxonomical and ecological viewpoints. These rodent remains are rare el-ements within the Plio-Pleistocene European fauna.
The taxon Hystrix cf. depereti can be considered as stratigraphically significant for the Ruscinian level and its presence at the site confirms the previous view on the palaeoenvironment consisting of a humid forest belt around a broad river valley with a karstified limestone massif probably surrounded by drier open habitats in higher elevations.