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Schöningen Site
The Schöningen site is a Paleolithic archaeological site in Lower Saxony, in Germany, dating to around 300,000 years ago. It is best known for the Schöningen spears, some of the oldest known wooden spears, found in the "spear horizon", though the site as a whole covers a broader span of time. Discovery and stratigraphy The site was initially excavated between 1994 and 1999, after having been found at an overcast mine near Schöningen in Lower Saxony, Germany. The depositional environment is thought to have been a lakeshore, with thermoluminescence dating and uranium–thorium dating suggesting an age of the site of approximately 300,000 years ago, during an interglacial period corresponding to Marine Isotope Stage 9. Though a 2025 study suggested a younger age of approximately 200,000 years ago during MIS 7 for the Spear horizon. Spear horizon (13 II-4) At the so-called "spear horizon", referred to within the stratigraphic sequence as Schöningen 13 II-4, numerous remains (r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic ( years ago) ( ), also called the Old Stone Age (), is a period in human prehistory that is distinguished by the original development of stone tools, and which represents almost the entire period of human prehistoric technology. It extends from the earliest known use of stone tools by Hominini, hominins, 3.3 million years ago, to the end of the Pleistocene, 11,650 Before Present#Radiocarbon calibration, cal Before Present, BP. The Paleolithic Age in Europe preceded the Mesolithic Age, although the date of the transition varies geographically by several thousand years. During the Paleolithic Age, hominins grouped together in small societies such as band society, bands and subsisted by gathering plants, fishing, and hunting or scavenging wild animals. The Paleolithic Age is characterized by the use of Knapping, knapped stone tools, although at the time humans also used wood and bone tools. Other organic commodities were adapted for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irish Elk
The Irish elk (''Megaloceros giganteus''), also called the giant deer or Irish deer, is an extinct species of deer in the genus '' Megaloceros'' and is one of the largest deer that ever lived. Its range extended across northern Eurasia during the Pleistocene, from Ireland (where it is known from abundant remains found in bogs) to Lake Baikal in Siberia. The most recent remains of the species have been radiocarbon dated to about 7,700 years ago in western Russia.International Code of Zoological Nomenclature">International Code of Zoological Nomenclature">/nowiki>International Code of Zoological Nomenclature/nowiki> (article 12) to validate ''Megalocerus''." The original spelling of ''Megalocerus'' was never used after its original publication.In 1844, Richard Owen named another synonym of the Irish elk, including it within the newly named subgenus ''Megaceros'', ''Cervus'' (''Megaceros'') ''hibernicus''. This has been suggested to be derived from another junior synonym of the Iris ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Desman
Desmans are aquatic insectivores of the tribe Desmanini (also considered a subfamily, Desmaninae) in the mole (animal), mole family, Talpidae. This tribe consists of two living species found in Europe: the Russian desman (''Desmana moschata'') in European Russia, and the Pyrenean desman (''Galemys pyrenaicus'') in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula and the Pyrenees. Both species are Endangered species, endangered, the Russian desman Critically Endangered, critically so. They have webbed paws and their front paws are not well-adapted for digging. Desmans were much more diverse and widespread during the Miocene, with two genera, ''Gaillardia (mole), Gaillardia'' and ''Magnatalpa'', being present in North America. Both living species are thought to have derived from the fossil genus ''Archaeodesmana.'' Species *Genus ''Desmana'' **Russian desman (''D. moschata'') **†''Desmana kowalskae'' **†''Desmana nehringi'' **†''Desmana inflata'' **†''Desmana thermalis'' **†''Des ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eurasian Pygmy Shrew
The Eurasian pygmy shrew (''Sorex minutus''), often known simply as the pygmy shrew, is a widespread shrew of the northern Palearctic. Description It measures about in length, not including the tail, and has an average weight of .The hair on the back is blackish with shades ranging from reddish to purplish, very dense and shiny: the belly, throat, jaw, periocular area and lower part of the tail are contrasted whitish. The muzzle and legs are covered with sparse white hair (vibrissae in the muzzle ), while the skin is flesh colored: the ears are small and half hidden by the hair, they are dark flesh colored and shaped like a semicircle. In this species the head is larger in proportion to the body than in other shrews. It may be confused with Eurasian least shrew and the Etruscan shrew The Etruscan shrew (''Suncus etruscus''), also known as the Etruscan pygmy shrew, white-toothed pygmy shrew and Savi's pygmy shrew, is the smallest known extant mammal by mass, weighing only abo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neomys
The genus ''Neomys'' is a group of four Eurasian water shrews from the subfamily Soricinae of the family Soricidae. These shrews are found in most of Europe and parts of northern Asia, as well as Turkey and Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort .... Its member species are: * Eurasian water shrew (''Neomys fodiens'') — (Pennant, 1771) * Iberian water shrew (''Neomys anomalus'') — Cabrera, 1907 * Mediterranean water shrew (''Neomys milleri'') — Mottaz, 1907 * Transcaucasian water shrew (''Neomys teres'') — Miller, 1908 References * Mammal genera Mammals of Asia Mammals of Europe Taxa named by Johann Jakob Kaup Extant Pliocene first appearances {{redtoothed-shrew-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trogontherium
''Trogontherium'' is an extinct genus of Eurasian giant beavers that lived from the Late Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene. Fossils of ''Trogontherium'' have been found across northern Eurasia, from Western Europe to China and Siberia. Taxonomy ''Trogontherium'' was originally described in 1809 from a skull given to Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim from the collection of Russian aristocrat Alexander Sergeyevich Stroganov found near Taganrog on the coast of the Sea of Azov in southern Russia, suggested to be Early Pleistocene in age. Originally, no species name was given. In 1824, Georges Cuvier cited the type species name as being ''T. cuvieri,'' attributing the species name to von Waldheim, which has been followed by later authors.'''' Although the origin of the name was previously obscure, a 2024 study confirmed that the species name ''T. cuvieri'' was first used in a previously overlooked 1814 publication by von Waldheim. ''T. cuvieri'' is known from the Late Pliocene to Pleisto ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
European Beaver
The Eurasian beaver (''Castor fiber'') or European beaver is a species of beaver widespread across Eurasia, with a rapidly increasing population of at least 1.5 million in 2020. The Eurasian beaver was hunted to near-extinction for both its fur and castoreum, with only about 1,200 beavers in eight relict populations from France to Mongolia in the early 20th century. It has since been reintroduced into much of its former range and now lives from Western, Southern, Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia through China and Mongolia, with about half the population in Russia. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. Taxonomy ''Castor fiber'' was the scientific name used by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, who described the beaver in his work ''Systema Naturae''. Between 1792 and 1997, several Eurasian beaver zoological specimens were described and proposed as subspecies, including: *''C. f. albus'' and ''C. f. solitarius'' by Robert Kerr in 1792 *''C. f. fulvus'' and ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Homotherium
''Homotherium'' is an extinct genus of Homotherini, scimitar-toothed cat belonging to the extinct subfamily Machairodontinae that inhabited North America, Eurasia, and Africa, as well as possibly South America during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs from around 4 million to 12,000 years ago. It was one of the last surviving members of the subfamily alongside the more famous sabertooth ''Smilodon'', to which it was not particularly closely related. It was a large cat, comparable in size to a lion, functioning as an apex predator in the ecosystems it inhabited. It had an elongate neck and relatively elongate legs, a relatively short back and a very short tail, with the mummy of a ''H. latidens'' cub of Late Pleistocene age found in Siberia having a plain dark brown coat colour. In comparison to ''Smilodon'', the canines of ''Homotherium'' were shorter, though still longer than those of living cats, and it is suggested to have had a different ecology from ''Smilodon'' as a pursuit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Least Weasel
The least weasel (''Mustela nivalis''), little weasel, common weasel, or simply weasel is the smallest member of the genus ''Mustela,'' Family (biology), family Mustelidae and Order (biology), order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Malta, Crete, the Azores, and São Tomé Island, São Tomé. It is classified as least concern by the IUCN, due to its wide distribution and large population throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The least weasel varies greatly in size over its range. The body is slender and elongated, and the legs and tail are relatively short. The colour varies geographically, as does the pelage type and length of tail. The dorsal surface, flanks, limbs and tail of the animal are usually some shade of brown while the underparts are white. The line delineating the boundary between the two colours is usually straight. At high altitudes and in the northern part of its range, the coat becomes pure ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stoat
The stoat (''Mustela erminea''), also known as the Eurasian ermine or ermine, is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. Because of its wide circumpolar distribution, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The name ermine () is used especially in its pure white winter coat of the stoat or its fur. Ermine fur was used in the 15th century by Catholic monarchs, who sometimes used it as the mozzetta cape. It has long been used on the ceremonial robes of members of the United Kingdom House of Lords. It was also used in capes on images such as the Infant Jesus of Prague. The stoat was introduced into New Zealand in the late 19th century to control rabbits. However, they have had a devastating effect on native bird populations; as such, the species was nominated as one of the world's top 100 "worst invaders". Etymology The root word for "stoat" is likely either the Dutch word ("bold") or the Gothic word (, "to push"). Accor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red Fox
The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus parts of North Africa. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. Its range has increased alongside human expansion, having been Foxes in Australia, introduced to Australia, where it is considered harmful to native small and medium-sized rodents and marsupials. Due to its impact on native species, it is included on the list of the "List of the world's 100 worst invasive species, world's 100 worst invasive species". The red fox originated in Eurasia during the Middle Pleistocene at least 400,000 years ago and later colonised North America sometime prior to 130,000 years ago. Among the true foxes, the red fox represents a more progressive form in the direction of Carnivore, carnivory. Apart from its large size, the red fox is distin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wolf
The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, including the dog and dingo, though grey wolves, as popularly understood, only comprise Wild type, naturally-occurring wild subspecies. The wolf is the largest wild Neontology, extant member of the family Canidae, and is further distinguished from other ''Canis'' species by its less pointed ears and muzzle, as well as a shorter torso and a longer tail. The wolf is nonetheless related closely enough to smaller ''Canis'' species, such as the coyote and the golden jackal, to produce fertile Canid hybrid, hybrids with them. The wolf's fur is usually mottled white, brown, grey, and black, although subspecies in the arctic region may be nearly all white. Of all members of the genus ''Canis'', the wolf is most Generalist and specialist species, specializ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
