Carnivores from Chlum 4S (Czech Republic): new insight for the latest early Pleistocene carnivore faunas in Central Europe

The analysis of carnivore remains from Chlum 4S revealed the presence of an abundant assemblage dominated by species of the Early Pleistocene origin. At least 13 taxa have been identified from this locality: <i>Lycaon lycaonoides</i>, <i>Cuon alpinus priscus</i>, <i>Canis mosbachensis</i>, <i>Vulpes praeglacialis</i>, <i>Ursus deningeri</i>, <i>Ursus</i> cf. <i>arctos</i>, <i>Gulo gulo schlosseri</i>, <i>Meles meles</i>, <i>Lutra</i> sp. <i>Martes vetus</i>, <i>Panthera gombaszogensis gombaszogensis</i>, <i>Lynx issiodorensis</i> and <i>Pachycrocuta brevirostris</i>. Most of them documented characterise MIS 23–21 (0.9–0.8 mya), i.e. the time when the carnivore communities were still highly diversified, and ancient faunal elements such as <i>Lycaon lycaonoides</i>, <i>Canis mosbachensis</i>, <i>Martes vetus</i>, <i>Panthera gombaszogensis gombaszogensis</i> and <i>Pachycrocuta brevirostris</i> were still common, widespread and dominant. At the same time, this fauna also signalised upcoming faunal changes. Among them, <i>Cuon alpinus priscus</i> and <i>Ursus deningeri</i> are the species confirming the beginning of the faunal turnover. Within the next 400 kya, almost all ancient species have disappeared, while dhole and spelaeoid bear were among the carnivores which formed the core of the assemblage that survived with small modifications until the very end of the Late Pleistocene.