Holocene Distribution and Extinction of Ungulates in Northern Eurasia.

Previously published and original data on the Holocene distribution and extinction of ungulates in northern Eurasia are examined. Data on the relative and absolute age and finding places on the wild horse (Equus ferus Boddaert 1785), the European ass (Equus hydruntinus Regalia 1907), the giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus Blumenbach 1799), the steppe bison (Bison priscus Bojanus 1825), the musk ox (Ovibos moschatus Zimmermann 1780), and the aurochs (Bos primigenius Bojanus 1825) are analyzed and summarized; the patterns of changes in the species ranges and extinction processes are compared. It has been concluded that, in the last interglacial era, the limits of the ranges changed at different rates, not only in different species, but also in one species in different parts of the range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]