Stratigraphic distribution of mammals in the Taishaku-kyo sites, Hiroshima Prefecture, west Japan

Abstract

Sites along the Taishaku River, collectively called the Taishaku-kyo sites, have yielded abundant mammalian remains of Late Pleistocene and Holocene Age. Palaeontological data on the remains hitherto obtained from four representative sites are compiled, in order to confirm the biostratigraphic distribution of mammals. About 69% of the well-identified forms known from these sites are extant species which occur in the modern mammal community of this area. About 19% are exotic forms which are not absent from this area, but occur in other areas. Because each of them disappears at various horizons, they are assumed to have become extinct in this area at various times ranging from Late Pleistocene to Holocene. The remaining 12% are extinct forms, which occur in the Late Pleistocene horizons only. This suggests that they disappeared from this area by the end of the Late Pleistocene. -from English summary