Pleistocene macrofaunae from NW Europe: Changes in response to Pleistocene climate change and a new find of Canis etruscus (Oosterschelde, the Netherlands) contributes to the ‘Wolf Event’

Abstract

Milanković cycles and/or the related sea level fluctuations have been thought to be responsible for mammalian events (migrations and/or extinctions) on a large geographical scale. One of those events was the so-called ‘Wolf Event’. A recent find of Canis etruscus (this study) shows that the tribe Canini was dispersed further than Central-southern Europe, up to the Northwestern part of the continent. In addition it appears that palaeontologists have to reconsider the diachroneity of the ‘Wolf Event’, which seems that it occurred during a longer time span than originally thought. Moreover, extensive literature research combined with the study of several Dutch and other European faunal assemblages (Chilhac, Oosterschelde, Tegelen, Untermassfeld, Het Gat, Eurogeul and Maasvlakte-2) indicate that Mianković cycles and/or the related sea level fluctuations can cause mammal events. This is confirmed by the faunal elements themselves, which show a certain pattern of adaptation according to different climatic regimes during (inter-)glacial periods.