Fossil insectivorous mammals (Eulipotyphla) of the southern Pre-Urals (Bashkortostan, Russia).

Seven species of red-toothed shrews (Sorex araneus, Sorex isodon, Sorex tundrensis, Sorex caecutiens, Sorex minutus, Sorex minutissimus, Neomys fodiens), white-toothed shrews (Crocidura sp.), moles (Talpa sp.) and hedgehogs (Erinaceus sp.) were found in Late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits of the southern part of the western slope of the Ural Mountains. In the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene deposits, the red-toothed shrews were dominated by S. tundrensis. This species disappeared from the area by the Late Holocene, when S. araneus became the predominant species. Smaller mandibular sizes have been registered for S. araneus in the Middle and Late Holocene, as compared to the sizes of older samples. The morphometric criteria have been established for a species differential diagnosis of the Late Pleistocene – Early Holocene mandibular samples of S. araneus and S. tundrensis , found in local deposits of the southern Pre-Urals area studied. • Bones of insectivorous mammals (10 taxons) were found in the deposits of caves and grottoes in the southern Pre-Urals. • Sorex tundrensis was dominant species in the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene deposits. • Fossil Sorex araneus and Sorex tundrensis are well differentiated by three morphometric parameters. • Temporal variability was traced within the samples of mandibles of Sorex araneus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]