This paper presents a synoptic revision of the genus Mogera (Lipotyphla: Talpidae), based on morphological and genetic data. Atotal often species are recognized, which are representedby two lineages: the northern, or "Japanese", lineage and the southern, or"Chinese", lineage. Both lineages contain continental and insularspecies. TheJapaneselineageincludesthecontinentalspeciesM. robustaandtheinsularspeciesM. wogura, M. tokudae, M. imaizumii, and M. etigo, while the Chinese lineage includes the continental species M. latouchei and the insular species M. hainana, M. kanoana, M. insularis, and M. uchidai. Information on morphology, genetic data, distribution, natural history, and taxonomy is provided for each species. The distribution of M. latouchei in Vietnam was analysed based on available information and museum specimens.
We report the discovery of a water shrew specimen displaying intermediate morphological characteristics between Neomys milleri and N. fodiens, found in the Ulyanovsk region (53.8359 degrees N, 48.4986 degrees E). This locality is considerably distant (360-420 km) from the known range of N. milleri. We describe the capture location and external characteristics of the animal and present an analysis of its mitochondrial cytb gene and three nuclear introns (TRAIP, CSF2 and GDAP1). Although the specimen's mtDNA was initially identified as N. milleri, analysis of the nuclear introns revealed mixed inheritance: two were specific to N. milleri and one to N. fodiens. This combination of characteristics suggests a hybrid origin resulting from recurrent crossbreeding.
. New material of Pleistocene wolverines (Gulo gulo) from north-eastern Yakutia is described, comprising eight complete crania from the Indigirka River basin (Badyarikha, Ogorokha and Tirekhteekh) and New Siberia Island, together with associated fragments. AMS radiocarbon dates obtained at ETH Z & uuml;rich (c. 24-45 cal ka BP) place these specimens in the Late Pleistocene (MIS 3-MIS 2). Their large size, strongly developed cranial crests and prominent muscle attachment areas indicate that all crania except DSMF GG/Og1 are probably male. Fused nasals, extensive suture obliteration and advanced dental wear indicate that the Indigirka sample comprises adult individuals. Craniometric analysis (cranial length, mastoid and interorbital breadths and additional measurements) shows that the Yakutian specimens consistently exceed the size range of extant Eurasian wolverines and are comparable to the Late Pleistocene form Gulo gulo berelechii from the Berelekh mammoth-fauna locality (Yakutia). We discuss the distinctive taxonomic status of the Yakutian wolverines and their role in the Late Pleistocene biodiversity of Western Beringia, as well as possible ecological drivers of their large body size, which may have been linked to climatic phases and trophic resource structure.
In 2019, the skeleton of a woolly mammothMammuthus primigenius (Blumenbach, 1799) was recovered from alluvial deposits on the Gusinaya River, Taymyr Peninsula, Russia. This find is of considerable significance for two reasons. First, the skeleton is almost complete and belonged to a relatively young individual, estimated to be 30-40 years old. Second, it is one of the few known M. primigenius skeletons dating from the terminal Late Pleistocene, with an age of 13 100-12 690 cal BP. The bones were severely weathered and consequently mechanically weak, friable and highly vulnerable once excavated. This paper describes a conservation process specifically designed to stabilise the bones while preserving them in a condition as close as possible to their original state, without reconstructing losses, fractures or other natural alterations. This approach ensures that the bones remain available for a wide range of current and future investigations, including morphological, morphometric, palaeogenomic, isotopic, radiocarbon and taphonomic studies, without obscuring natural post-mortem damage or the original state of the bones and epiphyses at the time of death.
. The large serotine bats, previously classified as Eptesicus serotinus, are now commonly considered to represent two species: the west Palaearctic E. serotinus s. str. and the east Palaearctic E. pachyomus. Their combined range extends from western Europe and the Middle East to Korea and Indochina, but the geographical limits of the two species remain unclear. This is particularly true for Central Asia, where the large serotines are rare bats. Until recently, only four serotine localities were reported from Mongolia, and there was no consensus in the literature on the exact species identification of these specimens. In this study, we analyzed large serotines from Mongolia. Based on the mitochondrial ND1 and CytB gene sequence analysis, the specimens were identified as belonging to E. serotinus, contradicting the view that the Mongolian serotines represent E. pachyomus. The latter species report is likely a consequence of misconceptions regarding the northern margins of the E. pachyomus range. It is here suggested that the distribution range of the two species in Central Asia is determined by the extends of arid and moderately humid habitats, respectively, which borders significantly southwards of Mongolia.
