ASGP (2024), vol. 94: 255–272

BARANOGALE HELBINGI KORMOS, 1934 (MUSTELIDAE, CARNIVORA) FROM THE LATE PLIOCENE SITE WĘŻE 1 (POLAND)

Adrian MARCISZAK (1*), Grzegorz LIPECKI (2) & Mieczysław WOLSAN (3)

1) Department of Palaeozoology, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław, Poland; e-mail: adrian.marciszak@uwr.edu.pl;
2) Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016 Kraków, Poland; e-mail: lipecki@isez.pan.krakow.pl
3) Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland; e-mail: mwolsan@miiz.waw.pl
*) Corresponding author

Marciszak, A., Lipecki, G. & Wolsan, M., 2024. Baranogale helbingi Kormos, 1934 (Mustelidae, Carnivora) from the late Pliocene site Węże 1 (Poland). Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 94: 255–272.

Abstract: The ancient and archaic mustelid Baranogale helbingi is a European endemit. Its occurrence is characteristic for the Pliocene, but the species occurred also during the early Pleistocene. Among 30 sites, where its occurrence is documented, 8 are located in Poland. Among them, the most abundant material was found at Węże 1, dated at 3.6–3.2 Myr. The newly described remains, with two relatively well preserved skulls, broadly expand knowledge about the species. Morphometrical analysis showed the important role of sexual dimorphism in the variability of the species. Like other European Ictonychini, B. helbingi vanished during the early Pleistocene, owing to competition with small Mustelinae that were extremely adaptable in terms of ecology.

Manuscript received 22 March 2024, accepted 23 May 2024