Meles cf. meles Linnaeus, 1758

Meles cf. meles Linnaeus, 1758 View in CoL

( Figs 13–16 View Figs 2–16 , Table 2 View Table 2 )

Material – Layer 1: Phalanx I (V.81.21).

Layer 4: Proximal fragments of a left and a right ulna; right femur fragment ( Fig. 13 View Figs 2–16 ); left tibia; left tibia distal fragment; right humerus fragment (diaphysis) (the whole tibia belonged to a smaller individual, the other 5 specimens very probably belonged to the same larger individual) (VER 2018.2610.).

Layer 5: MC II (V.82.105).

Layer 8: Left lower caninus fragment (V.83.18).

Layer 14: Left upper caninus fragment (V.89.4).

Layer 15: Left tibia distal fragment; phalanx III (V.89.47).

Layer 31: Left dP 4 (VER 2018.2692.).

Layer 32: Upper incisivus (VER 2018.2647.).

Layer 33: Left lower caninus (VER 2018.2656.); – Left lower caninus (VER 2018.2658.); – Left mandibula fragment with M 1; right mandibula fragment with C, P 3, M 1 ( Figs 14–15 View Figs 2–16 ) (the specimens belonged to the same individual together with the VER 2018.2656. caninus) (VER 2018.2660.).

Layer 39: Left radius distal fragment (VER 2018.2665.).

Layer 41: Left lower caninus (VER 2018.2667.); – Left P 4 (VER 2018.2677.).

Between layer 43 and 50: Left humerus fragment (VER 2018.2681.) ( Fig. 16 View Figs 2–16 ).

From mixed deposits: MT II (VER 2018.2688.).

Remarks – The badger remains from Somssich Hill 2 are a bit smaller than the extant Meles meles (very probably that is why JÁNOSSY (1999) described them as Meles cf. atavus ), but their morphology corresponds with that. Considering Table 2 View Table 2 . in PETRUCCI et al. (2013) the measurements of Somssich Hill M 1 -s are similar to those of the Pirro Nord specimen ( Table 2 View Table 2 ). They are smaller than Meles hollitzeri but a bit larger than Meles atavus . They fall into the range of Meles thorali , but the length of the trigonid of the M 1 is clearly smaller than that of M. thorali . There is not any accessory cuspid between protoconid and paraconid which cuspid would be a diagnostic feature of Meles atavus so the Somssich Hill 2 badger remains can be ranked into the Meles meles species. According to many authors, some of the above mentioned species names could be used as subspecies of Meles meles because of the highly polimorphic feature of this species (e.g., WOLSAN 2001, PETRUCCI et al. 2013).