Metric analysis of ungulate mammals in the early Middle Pleistocene of Britain, in relation to taxonomy and biostratigraphy: II: Cervidae, Equidae and Suidae

Abstract: The taxonomy and biostratigraphic significance of horses (Equus), deer (Capreolus, Dama, Cervus, Cervalces, Praemegaceros, Megaloceros) and pigs (Sus) from key British early Middle Pleistocene sites are investigated using a biometric approach. The sites compared are West Runton (type Cromerian), Pakefield, Little Oakley, Westbury-sub-Mendip, and Boxgrove. The samples include a significant amount of previously undescribed material. Stenonid horses dominate at Pakefield and West Runton, caballines at Westbury and Boxgrove, corresponding to the Mimomys/Arvicola division. The deer of Boxgrove include relatively large roe and small red deer, the latter distinguishing it from the Westbury Pink Breccia. The poorly-known giant deer Praemegaceros dawkinsi spans both the Mimomys (Little Oakley, Pakefield) and Arvicola (Boxgrove) zones of the Cromerian Complex. There is a marked shift in cervid abundance from predominant megacerines (Mimomys zone) to predominant red deer (Arvicola zone). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]