One or Two: How Many Species of the Genus Pyrrhocorax (Passeriformes, Corvidae) Inhabited the Crimea During the Late Pleistocene?

The article provides an overview of bird remains assigned to the genus Pyrrhocorax Tunstall, 1771 from nine cave sites Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene age within Crimean Peninsula (Ukraine). A large sample chough bones Emine-Bair-Khosar Cave (722 bones) is processed results obtained are presented here for first time. Re-identification revealed presence Alpine graculus in studied region instead two species as previously believed. material was extinct subspecies – vetus based on a series measurements taken various skeletal elements (in particular, coracoideum, humerus, ulna, radius, carpometacarpus, femur, tibiotarsus, tarsometatarsus). previous assumptions coexistence Crimea during made it possible consider climate this relatively warm. Our indirectly that at verge rather cool therefore unsuitable red-billed chough.