Document Type
Article
Department
Biology (CMC), WM Keck Science (CMC), Biology (Pitzer), WM Keck Science (Pitzer), Biology (Scripps), WM Keck Science (Scripps), WM Keck Science
Publication Date
2010
Abstract
The ‘breccia’ stratum from Kents (we follow local tradition in using the form ‘Kents’, without an apostrophe) Cavern, England, has been well known for its rich yield of cave-bear material since excavations began in the mid-19th century. Recent work has established that the bears are of latest MIS 12 or earliest MIS 11 age. A life table based on a collection of 67 molariform teeth is consistent with the use of the cave as a hibernaculum. Univariate and morphological assessment of the teeth shows an unusual range of primitive and more derived characters. Multivariate morphometric analysis of cave-bear teeth from the site demonstrates that these animals, while currently assignable to Ursus deningeri sensu lato, are nevertheless morphologically distinct and not simply late deningeri on a hypothetical chronospecific continuum.
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DOI
10.1080/08912963.2010.483730
Recommended Citation
McFarlane, D. A., Lundberg, J. and Sabol, M. (2010). "A unique population of cave bears (Carnivora: Ursidae) from the Middle Pleistocene of Kents Cavern, England, based on dental morphometrics." Historical Biology 23: 2-11.
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