New Data on the Neopleistocene Mammal Fauna from the Region of the Natural Park “Lenskie Stolby” (Middle Lena River Basin, Yakutia)

A groundbreaking discovery reveals the presence of cave lions (Panthera spelaea) in the Lena Pillars Nature Park, marking the first documentation of this species in the Middle Lena River Basin. This finding, alongside 10 other large mammal species, enriches our understanding of the Neopleistocene fauna in Yakutia. Radiocarbon dating indicates that mass burials of these mammals predominantly formed during the Karginian interstadial (60–24 thousand years ago), a period previously identified as optimal for mammoth fauna distribution. The study also highlights shifts in the ecological preferences of Ovis nivicola compared to modern populations, providing new insights into Pleistocene ecosystems.

Boeskorov, G. G., Maschenko, E. N., Ponomarev, I. V., Solomonov, N. G., Nogovitsyn, P. R., Shchelchkova, M. V., Stepanov, A. D., & Oleinikov, O. B. (2023). New Data on the Neopleistocene Mammal Fauna from the Region of the Natural Park “Lenskie Stolby” (Middle Lena River Basin, Yakutia). Палеонтологический Журнал, (1), 63–73. https://doi.org/10.31857/s0031031x2301004x