Grutas do Maciço Hespérico de Portugal com faunas de grandes mamíferos plistocénicos. Breve síntese

Abstract

[Abstract] This study presents a review of the large-sized mammals from the Upper Pleistocene of portuguese caves situated at the Hesperic basement. At the moment, only two caves are known: the Lorga de Dine cave (Vinhais, Braganc.;a) and Escoural cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Ivora). Both were excavated at the sixteens and no stratigraphic or horizontal records are published. The presence ofCrocuta crocuta intermedia at Lorga de Dine allows us to suppose an occupation ofthe cave during the Mindel-Riss; in that case, it will be the oldest cavity with palaeontological interest known in Portugal. Nevertheless, we must admit the role ofthe Iberian Peninsula as a refuge-territory, that couldjustify the presence of several species, later than is known elsewere in Europe. Escoural cave - the most occidental cave with parietal pleistocene art - gave the only Cuon alpinus europaeus remains known at present in Portugal. Considering the large majority or even the totality ofthe remains relate to the Late Wurm, the ungulates associations ofLorga de Dine and Escoural suggest the existence oflarge open spaces, with aurochs and horses, with spaced arboreal areas, with red deers.