Middle Pleistocene bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from the Yarimburgaz Cave in Turkish Thrace (Turkey)

Abstract

Th e Yarimburgaz Cave near Bosporus is an important Middle Pleistocene fossil site both in terms of Archeology and Paleontology in the northeast Mediterranean, containing the richest bat fauna of that time. Th ere are at least 14 and possibly as many as 16 species of the genera Rhinolophus, Myotis, Plecotus, and Miniopterus present in this locality. Th e identifi cation is based on the morphology of skulls, jaws, and humeri. Th e cave contains three sedimentary cycles. Cycle I is the oldest unit and produces most of the species, eight, with Rhinolophus mehelyi and Myotis blythii the most frequent. Th e presence of these species suggests a Mediterranean climate with cool, rainy winters and hot, moderately dry summers (KRYŠTUFEK & VOHRALIK 2001). In cycle II very few fossils were found. Cycle III contains fewer individuals than cycle I with only six taxa represented. Myotis blythii and Miniopterus schreibersi are the dominating species. Given the presence of the rodents and lagomorphs of the Yarimburgaz Cave, a heterogeneous climate with changing colder, dryer, but also warmer phases which are indicated by the bats, can be supposed.