Sotnikova M.V., Klimovsky A.I., Polyanskaya V.V., Sizov A.V. 2026. Large-bodied wolverines Gulo gulo berelechii from the Late Pleistocene of north-eastern Yakutia, Russia // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.25. No.1. P.66–82 [in English].
Marina V. Sotnikova [sotnikmarina@yandex.ru], Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevskii per. 7, Moscow 119017, Russia; Aisen I. Klimovsky [aisen@mail.ru], Department for the Study of Mammoth Fauna, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Kulakovsky str., 48, Yakutsk, 677000, Russia; Vera V. Polyanskaya [verapolyanskaya234@gmail.com], Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, Moscow 119234, Russia; Alexander V. Sizov [alx.sizov@yandex.ru], Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevskii per. 7, Moscow 119017, Russia.
doi: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.25.1.08
ABSTRACT. New material of Pleistocene wolverines (Gulo gulo) from north-eastern Yakutia is described, comprising eight complete crania from the Indigirka River basin (Badyarikha, Ogorokha and Tirekhteekh) and New Siberia Island, together with associated fragments. AMS radiocarbon dates obtained at ETH Zürich (c. 24–45 cal ka BP) place these specimens in the Late Pleistocene (MIS 3–MIS 2). Their large size, strongly developed cranial crests and prominent muscle attachment areas indicate that all crania except DSMF GG/Og1 are probably male. Fused nasals, extensive suture obliteration and advanced dental wear indicate that the Indigirka sample comprises adult individuals. Craniometric analysis (cranial length, mastoid and interorbital breadths and additional measurements) shows that the Yakutian specimens consistently exceed the size range of extant Eurasian wolverines and are comparable to the Late Pleistocene form Gulo gulo berelechii from the Berelekh mammoth-fauna locality (Yakutia). We discuss the distinctive taxonomic status of the Yakutian wolverines and their role in the Late Pleistocene biodiversity of Western Beringia, as well as possible ecological drivers of their large body size, which may have been linked to climatic phases and trophic resource structure.
KEY WORDS: Late Pleistocene, Yakutia, mammoth fauna, wolverines, Gulo gulo, skulls, morphology, morphometrics.