Baranogale helbingi Kormos, 1934 (Mustelidae, Carnivora) from the late Pliocene site Węże 1 (Poland)

Abstract

The ancient and archaic mustelid Baranogale helbingi is a European endemit. Its occurrence is characteristic for the Pliocene, but the species occurred also during the early Pleistocene. Among 30 sites, where its occurrence is documented, 8 are located in Poland. Among them, the most abundant material was found at Weze 1, dated at 3.6–3.2 Myr. The newly described remains, with two relatively well preserved skulls, broadly expand knowledge about the species. Morphometrical analysis showed the important role of sexual dimorphism in the variability of the species. Like other European Ictonychini, B. helbingi vanished during the early Pleistocene, owing to competition with small Mustelinae that were extremely adaptable in terms of ecology.