Original scientific paper
PLEISTOCENE ORNITHOFAVNA FROM VINDIJA CAVE IN NORTHWESTERN CROATIA
Vesna Malez
Abstract
PLEISTOCENE ORNITHOFAVNA FROM VINDIJA CAVE
IN NORTHWESTERN CROATIA
The Palaeoornithologic treatment of the fossil material from
the Pleistocene strata of Vindija Cave near Donja Voča in northwestern Croatia has resulted in the taxonomic classification 21
families with 51 genera, which are represented by 64 species. One
genus and 5 new bird species have been determined for the first
time from the fossil avifauna of Yugoslavia, and there are as follows:
Ardeola sp. (heron). Anas querquedula (garganey), Falco rusticolus
(gyrfalcon). Callus gallus (hen), Recurvirostra avosetta
(avocet) and Otus scops (scops owl). On the basis of the bird remains
studies it can be deduced that in the wider surroundings
of the Vindija Cave, various ecosystems existed: water medium,
open areas, woods region, rocky areas and mixed biotope. The significance of the determined ornithofauna for the reconstruction
ol palaeoclimatic circumstances is also emphasized. The game
birds, significant for the nutrition of palaeolithic hunters, especially
the Neandertals, are these species: Ardea cinerea (grey heron),
Ardeola sp. (heron). Anas platyrhynchos (mallard). Anas
querquedula (garganey). Anas crecca (teal). Anas acuta (pintail),
Aythya fuligula (tufted duck), Aythya nyroca (ferruginous duck),
Aythya ferina (pochard), Mergus merganser (goosander), Lagopus
mutus (ptarmigan), Lagopus lagopus (willow grouse), Tetrao urogallus
(capercaillie), Lyrurus tetrix (black grouse), Tetrastes honasia
(hazelhen), Alectoris graeca (rock partridge), Phasianus colchicus
(common pheasant), Gallus gallus (hen), Gallinula chloropus
(moorhen), Vanellus vanellus (lapwing), Recurvirostra avosetta
(avocet), Limosa limosa (black-tailed godwit), Scolopax rust
icola (woodcock) and Gallinago gallinago (common snipe).
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
133944
URI
Publication date:
5.12.1988.
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