Ein jungpleistozäner Leopardenkiefer von Geinsheim (nördliche Oberrheinebene, Deutschland) und die stratigraphische und ökologische Verbreitung von Panthers pardus
- Author(s)
- Wighart V. Koenigswald, Doris Nagel, Frank Menger
- Abstract
A well preserved mandible of a leopard found in the upper Pleistocene sediments of the Rhine near Geinsheim shows a close relationship to extant Panthera pardus as well as some resemblance to the middle Pleistocene Panthera pardus sickenbergi. An evaluation of this intermediate position is difficult since the individual variation of fossil leopards is fairly unknown, due to the very rare remains. The mandible from Geinsheim affords an opportunity to review the fossil record of Panthera pardus in Central Europe. Although very rare, the leopard is present from the middle Pleistocene until the end of the late Pleistocene. This species is not restricted to the interglacial phases but occurs as well in the glacial faunas. The latest occurrence of Panthera pardus is documented during the very continental climate after the glacial maximum. Thus the extant range does not provide a reasonable key for the climatic limitation for the habitat of this cat.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Palaeontology
- External organisation(s)
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
- Journal
- Neues Jahrbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie - Monatshefte
- Pages
- 277-297
- No. of pages
- 21
- ISSN
- 0028-3630
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1127/njgpm/2006/2006/277
- Publication date
- 05-2006
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 105118 Palaeontology
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Palaeontology
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/9f135705-ed21-444e-9ccb-2471eb34e757