The summary of the Late Pleistocene Soricidae remains of the North Hungarian Vaskapu Cave

II and VII localities is given in the present paper. Five species (Sorex alpinus SHINZ, 1837,

Sorex minutus LINNAEUS, 1766, Sorex araneus LINNAEUS 1758, Crocidura russula HERMANN,

1780 and Crocidura suaveolens PALLAS, 1811) were identified in the fauna. The species

composition of the shrew assemblage indicates cold climate with diversified ecotypes in the

mountain surroundings, with forests and open grasslands as well. Also the new location (in the

Stratigraphical Collection of the Department of Paleontology and Geology at the Hungarian

Natural History Museum) with definitive inventory numbers of the formerly published Vaskapu

fossils is present here

Mészáros, Lukács

English

The summary of the Late Pleistocene Soricidae remains of the North Hungarian Vaskapu Cave II and VII localities is given in the present paper. Five species (Sorex alpinus SHINZ, 1837, Sorex minutus LINNAEUS, 1766, Sorex araneus LINNAEUS 1758, Crocidura russula HERMANN, 1780 and Crocidura suaveolens PALLAS, 1811) were identified in the fauna. The species composition of the shrew assemblage indicates cold climate with diversified ecotypes in the mountain surroundings, with forests and open grasslands as well. Also the new location (in the Stratigraphical Collection of the Department of Paleontology and Geology at the Hungarian Natural History Museum) with definitive inventory numbers of the formerly published Vaskapu fossils is present here

Repository of the Academy's Library

Hantkeniana 8, 163—169, Budapest, 2013  Review of the Late Pleistocene Soricidae (Mammalia) fauna of the Vaskapu Cave (North Hungary)   Lukács MÉSZÁROS1  (with 2 figures, 2 tables and 1 plate)  The summary of the Late Pleistocene Soricidae remains of the North Hungarian Vaskapu Cave II and VII localities is given in the present paper. Five species (Sorex alpinus SHINZ, 1837, Sorex minutus LINNAEUS, 1766, Sorex araneus LINNAEUS 1758, Crocidura russula HERMANN, 1780 and Crocidura suaveolens PALLAS, 1811) were identified in the fauna. The species composition of the shrew assemblage indicates cold climate with diversified ecotypes in the mountain surroundings, with forests and open grasslands as well. Also the new location (in the Stratigraphical Collection of the Department of Paleontology and Geology at the Hungarian Natural History Museum) with definitive inventory numbers of the formerly published Vaskapu fossils is present here. .   Introduction                       1 Eötvös University, Department of Palaeontology, H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Hungary. E-mail: salpin@freemail.hu The first report of the Late Pleistocene fauna of the Vaskapu Cave was given by Kadič and Mottl (1938). János Hír and Lukács Mészáros collected another fossil sample from Vaskapu II locality, of which Soricid species were published by MÉSZÁROS (1999). The further excavations carried out by L. Mészáros, M. Kázmér, I. Szente, A. Virág and A. Sóron yielded more shrew remains, with new species. A review of the shrew assemblage, with its palaeoecological implications, was required, because of the new results (Fig. 1).  MÉSZÁROS (1999) mentioned 3 Sorex species (S. alpinus, S. minutus, and S. araneus) from the Vaskapu II site. In contrast, two additional taxa (namely Crocidura russula and Crocidura suaveolens) are reported here. Only the soricid elements of the fauna are present in this paper. For the complete presentation of the Vaskapu fissure system and its microvertebrate assemblage see the article published in the present volume by VIRÁG et al. (2013).    Material and method  Because of the not definitive inventory, the material described and figured by MÉSZÁROS (1999) was mentioned only with “working numbers”. At present all the Vaskapu findings are stored in the Stratigraphical Collection of the Department of Palaeontology and Geology at the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest. The detailed data and the catalogue numbers of the old and the new Soricidae material are given in Tabs 1-2.  Morphological terms in Pl. 1 are used after REUMER (1984).    010203040506070SorexalpinusSorexminutusSorexaraneusCrocidurarussulaCrocidurasuaveolensVaskapu II.Vaskapu VII.  Figure 1. Species composition of the Vaskapu Soricidae faunas (% of the specimens)   Systematic review   Shrews have dilambdodont molars and elongated lower incisors, usually with a variable number of low cusplets along the edge of the latter. A dark red pigmentation is often present on the top of the dental cusps in the case of the group Soricinae (see on Pl. 1, Fig. 1-3), while Crocidurinae have white teeth, because they lack the aforementioned pigment. In the case of the latter group, the dorsal edge of the lower incisor is rather smooth, with traces of cusplets only (see on Pl. 1, Fig. 4 and 5).  Subfamily Soricinae  According to RZEBIK-KOWALSKA (1995), the Soricinae forms (pigmented toothed shrews), especially genus Sorex are adapted colder environment, than the Crocidurinae. They prefer wet, wooded environments to the open grasslands. Since they live in cold regions, they are characterized higher metabolic levels and average body temperature, than Crocidurinae.   Genus Sorex LINNAEUS, 1758 Sorex alpinus SHINZ, 1837 - 4 specimens from the Vaskapu II and 1 from the Vaskapu VII site.   Sorex minutus LINNAEUS, 1766 - 36 specimens from the Vaskapu II and 2 from the Vaskapu VII site (Pl. 1 Figs 1-2) Sorex araneus LINNAEUS, 1758 - 96 specimens from the Vaskapu II and 11 from the Vaskapu VII site (Pl. 1 Fig. 3)  Subfamily Crocidurinae  This subfamily (Crocidurinae or white-toothed shrews) contains mainly tropical forms. They differ from Soricinae mainly in their preferences, concerning humidity. They are adapted to more arid conditions than are Soricinae (RZEBIK-KOWALSKA 1995).  Genus Crocidura WAGLER, 1862 Crocidura russula HERMANN, 1780 - 1 specimen from the Vaskapu VII site (Pl. 1 Fig. 4) Crocidura suaveolens PALLAS, 1811 - 6 specimens from the Vaskapu II and 1 from the Vaskapu VII site (Pl. 1 Fig. 5)    Palaeoecological conclusions  On the basis of the shrew fauna (with many Sorex araneus and Sorex minutus findings, and the occurrence of the Alpine shrew, Sorex alpinus in the sample), MÉSZÁROS (2003) raised the idea of the presence of an “Alpine ecotope” in the higher areas of the Bükk Mountains during the time of the MÉSZÁROS, GY.: Late Pleistocene Soricidae, Vaskapu Cave, Hungary 165sedimentation of the Vaskapu Cave layers. This ecological change could be caused by the cold climate in the Pilisszántó Horizon (Late Würm). He supposed that there could be occurred open mountain vegetation in the Bükk Plateau, somewhat higher than the studied locality, which could be situated in the pine forest zone. The model is in agreement with the taphonomical observations of SÓRON & VIRÁG (2009), according to which the remains were transported to the plateau at the top of the Vaskapu VII locality by a stream from a somewhat higher area with both forest and open vegetation. The fossil ecosystem, which was determined in the Bükk Mountains, was very similar to the recent communities of the European high mountains (MÉSZÁROS 2004). This view is not refuted by the new Crocidura findings in the locality (Fig. 2). MÉSZÁROS (2011) studied recent sedimentations of similar samples to the fossil ones in the high mountain ecosystems (Eastern Austria, Rax Alps.) Comparison of the fossil and recent samples supported the hypotheses, that the Vaskapu localities actually represent an Alpine ecosystem. Although Crocidura species usually indicate some warmer and more arid climate than Sorex ones, however, the forms mentioned here rarely occur in the open mountain vegetation of the Rax Plateau.   0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Vaskapu II. Vaskapu VII.CrociduraSorex Figure 2. Generic composition of the Vaskapu Soricidae faunas (% of the specimens) .  Acknowledgements  The author would like to express his thanks to János Hír, András Szabolcs Sóron and Attila Virág for the chance of studying the material collected by them. He is indebted to Miklós Kázmér and István Szente for their assistance on the field. Special thanks to Attila Virág for his help in making the photo plate.    References  MÉSZÁROS, L. GY. (1999): Uppermost Pleistocene shrews (Mammalia, Soricidae) from Vaskapu Cave, Northern Hungary. – Annales Universitatis Scientiarum Budapestinensis, Sectio Geologica 32, pp. 43-50. MÉSZÁROS, L. (2003): Felső würm “alpesi” fauna a bükki Vaskapu-barlangból. – Abstracts of the 6th Annual Meeting of the Hungarian Palaeontologists, pp. 21. MÉSZÁROS, L. GY. (2004): Taxonomical revision of the Upper Würm Sorex (Mammalia, Insectivora) remains of Hungary, for proving the presence of an alpine ecotype in the Pilisszántó Horizon. – Annales Universitatis Scientiarum Budapestinensis, Sectio Geologica 37, pp. 9-25. MÉSZÁROS, L. (2011): Aktuopaleontológiai vizsgálatok a kelet-ausztriai Rax-hegységben. (Actuo-palaeontological studies in the Rax Alps, Austria). – In: KÁZMÉR M. (ed.): Környezettörténet 2. Környezeti események a honfoglalástól napjainkig történeti és természettudományi források tükrében. – Hantken Kiadó, Budapest, pp. 253-263. REUMER, J. W. F. (1984): Ruscinian and Early Pleistocene Soricidae from Tegelen (The Hantkeniana 8 (2013) 166 Netherlands) and Hungary. – Scripta Geologica, 73, pp. 1–173. RZEBIK-KOWALSKA B. (1995): Climate and history of European shrews (Family Soricidae). – Acta Zoologica Cracoviensa 38, pp. 95-107. SÓRON, A.SZ. & VIRÁG, A. (2009): Detailed quantitative method in microvertebrate taphonomy in the case of Pleistocene filling of the Vaskapu II rock shelter. – Central European Geology 52(2), pp. 185-198. VIRÁG, A., SZENTESI, Z., CSÉFÁN, T. &  KELLNER, L. M. (2013): The Late Pleistocene microvertebrate fauna of the Vaskapu Cave (North Hungary) and its taphonomical, biostratigraphical and palaeoecological implications. – Hantkeniana 8, pp. 151-161.    Table 1. New location of the Vaskapu II. Soricidae material in the Stratigraphical Collection of the Department of Palaeontology and Geology at the Hungarian Natural History Museum. Catalogue number Material Collected by First report in Figured in VK2.S.1. Sorex alpinus left mandible fragment Hír and Mészáros (1994) Mészáros 1999 Mészáros 1999, fig. 4 VK2.S.2. Sorex minutus right mandible Hír and Mészáros (1994) Mészáros 1999 Mészáros 1999, fig. 3 VK2.S.3. Sorex minutus left mabdible Hír and Mészáros (1994) Mészáros 1999 This paper VK2.S.4. Sorex minutus right maxillary fragment Hír and Mészáros (1994) Mészáros 1999 - VK2.S.5. Sorex minutus 16 mandible fragments and lower teeth Hír and Mészáros (1994) Mészáros 1999 - VK2.S.6. Sorex araneus left mandible Hír and Mészáros (1994) Mészáros 1999 Mészáros 1999, fig. 1 VK2.S.7. Sorex araneus right maxillary fragment Hír and Mészáros (1994) Mészáros 1999 Mészáros 1999, fig. 2 VK2.S.8. Sorex araneus 45 mandible fragments and lower teeth  Hír and Mészáros (1994) Mészáros 1999 - VK2.S.9. Sorex araneus 20 maxillary fragments and upper teeth Hír and Mészáros (1994) Mészáros 1999 - VK2.S.10. Sorex alpinus 3 mandible fragments Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK2.S.11. Sorex minutus 12 mandible fragments and lower teeth Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK2.S.12. Sorex minutus 3 maxillary fragments and upper teeth Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK2.S.13. Sorex araneus 13 mandible fragments Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK2.S.14. Sorex araneus 1 maxillary fragment and 1 upper tooth Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK2.S.15. Crocidura suaveolens 5 mandible fragments and lower teeth Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK2.S.16. Crocidura suaveolens right maxillary fragment  Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK2.S.17. Sorex minutus right mandible fragment  Sóron and Virág 2005-2009 This paper - VK2.S.18. Sorex minutus right maxillary fragment  Sóron and Virág 2005-2009 This paper - VK2.S.19. Sorex araneus 15 mandible fragments and lower teeth Sóron and Virág 2005-2009 This paper - VK2.S.20. Crocidura suaveolens left mandible fragment Sóron and Virág 2005-2009 This paper -  MÉSZÁROS, GY.: Late Pleistocene Soricidae, Vaskapu Cave, Hungary 167 Table 2. New location of the Vaskapu VII. Soricidae material in the Stratigraphical Collection of the Department of Paleontology and Geology at the Hungarian Natural History Museum.  Catalogue number Material Collected by First report in Figured in VK7.S.21. Sorex alpinus right mandible fragment Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK7.S.22. Sorex minutus left mandible Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper This paper VK7.S.23. Sorex minutus right mandible fragment Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK7.S.24. Sorex araneus left mandible Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper This paper VK7.S.25. Sorex araneus 10 mandible fragments and teeth Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper - VK7.S.26. Crocidura russula left mandible Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper This paper VK7.S.27. Crocidura suaveolens right mandible Kázmér, Mészáros and Szente (2002) This paper This paper      Hantkeniana 8 (2013) 168       Plate 1   1. Sorex minutus (VK2.S.3.) left mandible in lingual view from the Vaskapu II site. 2. Sorex minutus (VK7.S.22.) left mandible in buccal view from the Vaskapu VII site. 3. Sorex araneus (VK7.S.24.) left mandible in buccal view from the Vaskapu VII site. 4. Crocidura russula (VK7.S.26.) left mandible in buccal view from the Vaskapu VII site. 5. Crocidura suaveolens (VK7.S.27.) right mandible in buccal view from the Vaskapu VII site.  Abbreviations:   c = caninus; i = incisivus; m = molaris;  maf = mandibular foramen;  mef = mental foramen;  p = praemolaris;  pang = processus angularis;  pcond = processus condyloideus;  pcor = processus coronoideus.    MÉSZÁROS, GY.: Late Pleistocene Soricidae, Vaskapu Cave, Hungary 169 Plate 1    

Aktuopaleontológiai vizsgálatok a kelet-ausztriai Rax-hegységben. (Actuopalaeontological studies in the Rax Alps,

Climate and history of European shrews (Family Soricidae).

Detailed quantitative method in microvertebrate taphonomy in the case of Pleistocene filling of the Vaskapu II rock shelter.

Felső würm “alpesi” fauna a bükki Vaskapu-barlangból.

Ruscinian and Early Pleistocene Soricidae from

Taxonomical revision of the Upper Würm Sorex (Mammalia, Insectivora) remains of Hungary, for proving the presence of an alpine ecotype in the Pilisszántó Horizon.

The Late Pleistocene microvertebrate fauna of the Vaskapu Cave (North Hungary) and its taphonomical, biostratigraphical and palaeoecological implications.

Uppermost Pleistocene shrews (Mammalia, Soricidae) from Vaskapu Cave,

Review of the Late Pleistocene Soricidae (Mammalia) fauna of

the Vaskapu Cave (North Hungary)

Review of the Late Pleistocene Soricidae (Mammalia) fauna of the Vaskapu Cave (North Hungary)

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