Первые находки крупных пищух рода Ochotonoides Teil. de Chardin et Young (Lagomorpha, Lagomyidae и очерк истории Lagomyidae в Восточной Европе

Abstract

The article deals with a brief review of history of the Late Neogene Lagomyidae ire the South of the USSR European section based on the materials collected for two recent decades. Main stages of the qualitative changes in the Lagomyidae fauna are shown within a period of time from Meotis to Villafrank included. It is noted that the Kuchurgan (ancient) phase of Astian in the USSR European section is a focal point of such changes. namely, replacement of an autochthonous (Mediterranean in origin), prolagus background by migrants from Asia (Ochtona genus). Findings of representatives from the Asian genus of Ochotonoides are mentioned for the first time within the South of the USSR European section. It is shown that the first appearance of Ochotonoides within the mentioned region coincides with appearance of the most ancient representatives of voles from the Microtini tribe and jerboa (Dipodidae) falling on the completing regressive phase of Pontian. Two new species of Ochotonoides from the Upper Pliocene (Villafrank) deposits in the south-western part of the Black Sea in the Ukrainian SSR are described. 0. kujalnikensis sp. nov. differs from 0. complicidens T e i 1 de Char d. et Young and 0. csarnotanus K r et z o i in a weaker development of entrant folds of the trefoil P₃, ,its clearly pronounced asymmetry, due to the nearness of entrant folds of the latter; the middle and outer lobes are small, the interior one is mighty, protruded in transversal direction. It is confined to deposits of the Ancient Villafrank of the Odessa Black Sea area. 0. danubicus sp. nov. differs from the previous species in a weaker development of the internal entrant fold of the trefoil P3, less pronounced disproportion in dimensions of interior and middle lobes of the trefoil. It is confined to Late Villafrank in the south-western part of the Black Sea area of the Ukrainian SSR (basin).