How Far into Europe Did Pikas (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae) Go during the Pleistocene? New Evidence from Central Iberia

摘要: This paper reports the first find of pika remains in Iberian Peninsula, at a site central Spain. A fragmented mandible Ochotona cf. pusilla was unearthed from Layer 3 (deposited some 63.4±5.5 ka ago as determined by thermoluminescence) Buena Pinta Cave. record establishes new limits for genus geographic distribution during Pleistocene, shifting previous edge its known range southwest 500 km. It also supports idea that, even though Europe’s alpine mountain ranges represented barrier that prevented dispersal into south to this and other taxa small mammals eastern Europe, they were crossed or circumvented coldest time intervals end Middle Pleistocene Late Pleistocene. During those periods both reduction forest cover emersion large areas continental shelf due drop sea level probably provided these species way surpass barrier. The found accompanying adapted cold climates, indicating presence steppe environments Iberia