Baryshnikov G.F. 2010. Pleistocene Mustelidae (Carnivora) from Paleolithic site in Kudaro Caves in the Caucasus // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.8 (for 2009). No.2: 75–95 [in English].
Gennady F. Baryshnikov [G_Baryshnikov@mail.ru], Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia.
KEY WORDS: Mustelidae, Pleistocene, Paleolithic cave sites, Caucasus, taxonomy.
ABSTRACT. Kudaro Paleolithic sites in the Southern Ossetia are found to contain five species of mustelids: Meles meles, Martes foina, Martes martes, Vormela peregusna, and Mustela nivalis. All these species occur in the Caucasus at present time; no difference was revealed in the species composition between faunas of Middle and Late Pleistocene. The fossil and recent populations demonstrate a considerable morphological similarity, except weasel represented by a distinct fossil subspecies M. nivalis kudarensis subsp.n.