Geologicheskii Vestnik

The bone remains of amphibians, reptiles and small mammals from the loose sediments of the entrance grotto of the Grebnevaya cave (the middle reaches of the Yuryuzan River, Southern Urals) were studied. Amphibians are represented by Bufo sp., Pelophylax ridibundus and Rana cf. temporaria. Reptiles — Anguis fragilis, Lacerta cf. agilis, Zootoca vivipara, Coronella austriaca, Natrix sp., Vipera berus. The identified species composition of amphibians and reptiles from the locality consists of species characteristic of various biotopes of the mountainous part of the Southern Urals from the early Holocene to the present. In the earlier deposits of the cave (layer 3), remains of Microtus (Stenocranius) gregalis, Alexandromys oeconomus, Arvicola amphibius predominate; single remains of Allactaga major and Dicrostonyx torquatus were found. The second layer is dominated by remains of Arvicola amphibius, Microtus arvalis and Alexandromys oeconomus. Ochotona pusilla, Cricetulus migratorius, Lagurus lagurus, Microtus (Stenocranius) gregalis and a few Sorex sp., Apodemus ex gr. uralensis-agrarius, Cricetus cricetus, Myodes ex gr. Glareolus — rutilus. The youngest layer 1 is dominated by remains of Microtus arvalis, Sorex sp., Myodes ex gr. Glareolus — rutilus and Arvicola amphibius. Pteromys volans, Sciurus vulgaris, Apodemus flavicollis, Ochotona pusilla, Cricetulus migratorius, Allocricetulus eversmanni, Lagurus lagurus and Microtus (Stenocranius) gregalis were identified. A change in the ecological groups of small mammals is observed in the locality. In layer 3, the proportion of forest and meadow species is small, and the proportion of steppe species is significant, which is typical for the middle and early Holocene of the mountainous part of the Southern Urals. In layer 3, remains of lemmings were found, a tundra species characteristic of the early Holocene. The first layer is characterized by a significant proportion of forest and meadow species, but typical steppe species are also present. The accumulation of bone remains of small mammals in the Grebnevaya Cave location probably occurred at the end of the early and middle Holocene. The near-surface deposits of the first layer are enriched with species more characteristic of the late Holocene and modern times.

amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, Holocene, Southern Urals

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