New findings of a wolf (Canis lupus L. 1758) in the Late Pleistocene sediments of the Kolyma-Indigirka Lowland
https://doi.org/10.31242/2618-9712-2022-27-4-592-599
Abstract
The article presents a comparative study of morphometric parameters of fossil and modern grey wolves (Canis lupus L. 1758) from northeastern Yakutia. Wolf fossils were found in Abyysky and Kolymsky regions of Yakutia. The findings have been dated to the late Neopleistocene. We compared the proportions of the skull and the condition of the dental system of the wolf. Fossil wolf was on average slightly smaller than modern arctic tundra wolf, though their dental system has more powerful premolar rows responsible for cutting meat and breaking bones. The height of occipital bones of the wolves in Neopleistocene also indicates a more powerful development of their neck and chewing muscles. These features may indicate a predominantly scavenger role of the wolves in Neopleistocene ecosystems.
Keywords
wolf,
Neopleistocene,
Kolyma-Indigirka Lowland,
morphometric parameters,
skull,
dental system,
premolar series,
ecosystems of the late Pleistocene
Supporting agencies: This study was carried out within the framework of the State Assignment to the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) on the project “Paleoecologic studies of the Pleistocene and Holocene of Yakutia”.
About the Authors
A. I. Klimovsky
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
KLIMOVSKY, Aisen Ivanovich, Researcher, Author ID: 791714
S. D. Kolesov
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
KOLESOV, Stanislav Dmitrievich, Researcher, Author ID: 791719
33 Lenina pr., Yakutsk 677000
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Review
For citations:
Klimovsky A.I., Kolesov S.D. New findings of a wolf (Canis lupus L. 1758) in the Late Pleistocene sediments of the Kolyma-Indigirka Lowland. Arctic and Subarctic Natural Resources. 2022;27(4):592-599. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31242/2618-9712-2022-27-4-592-599
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