Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy (Jul 1990)

Remains of Insectivores and Rodents of recent age collected in a cave of Capri Island (Italy) / Resti di Insettivori e Roditori di età recente raccolti in una grotta dell'isola di Capri (Italia)

  • Carmela Barbera,
  • Maria Grazia Cimmino

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-2.1-3894
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 1

Abstract

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<strong>Abstract</strong> Remains of small mammals from a cave of Capri Island (Italy) were examined. They were collected together with other small vertebrates and are probably from pellets of birds of prey of subrecent age. The following species have been recognized from cranial bones and teeth: <em>Suncus etruscus</em> (Savi), <em>Rattus rattus</em> (L.), <em>Mus domesticus</em> Rutty, <em>Apodemus</em> sp. and <em>Eliomys quercinus</em> (L.). As regards <em>Apodemus</em>, the species identification was not possible since only mandibles were present among the remains belonging to this genus. Notwithstanding the attribution of our specimens to <em>Apodemus agrarius</em> can be excluded and it is limited to <em>A. sylvaticus</em> or <em>A. flavicollis</em>. It was not possible to make a comparison with <em>Apodemus sylvaticus tyrrhenicus</em> from the late Pleistocene of Capri; nevertheless the length and width of M<sub>1</sub> and M<sub>2</sub> of <em>Apodemus</em> sp. fall within the respective ranges of <em>Apodemus sylvaticus tyrrhenicus</em> provided by Gliozzi (in print). The occurence of <em>Suncus etruscus</em> (Savi), <em>Apodemus</em> sp. (probably <em>A. sylvaticus</em> or <em>A. flavicollis</em>), and <em>Eliomys quercinus</em> (L.) in subrecent time of Capri Island is not mentioned in the literature. <strong>Riassunto</strong> Nel presente lavoro viene effettuato lo studio tassonomico di resti di micromammiferi rinvenuti a Capri; questi si trovavano insieme ad altre ossa di microvertebrati, in un accumulo riferibile con tutta probabilità a residui di borre di rapaci di età subattuale. Le specie individuate sono: <em>Suncus etruscus</em> (Savi), <em>Rattus rattus</em> (L.), <em>Mus domesticus</em> Rutty, <em>Apodemus</em> sp. e <em>Eliomys quercinus</em> (L.). La presenza sull'isola delle specie <em>Suncus etruscus</em> (Savi), <em>Apodemus</em> sp. e <em>Eliomys quercinus</em> (L.) non è segnalata in precedenti pubblicazioni.

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