THE FIRST RECORD OF THE BIRCH MOUSE <em>SICISTA</em> IN THE UPPER PLEISTOCENE SEDIMENTS OF CAVERNA GENEROSA (COMO, NW ITALY), WITH MORPHOMETRICAL, MORPHOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract

In this study the only one specimen collected and attributed to Sicista cf. subtilis from the Caverna Generosa has been described: a right mandible with first molar and m/2-m/3 alveoli. The Sicista specimen shows a morphological and morphometrical similarity to Sicista subtilis and it may represent the first record in Italy and the third in the whole Europe of the latter species. The discovery defines advancement in the Sicista paleogeography in the North of Italy and it certainly demonstrates that an important faunal migration during the Last Maximum Glacial involved the Western part of the Po valley, too.

Keywords

• Sicista
• Paleoenvironment
• Upper Pleistocene
• northern Italy