Large mammals of Fouvent-Saint-Andoche (Haute-Saône, France): a glimpse into a Late Pleistocene hyena den Author Fourvel, Jean-Baptiste Author Fosse, Philippe Author Fernandez, Philippe Author Antoine, Pierre-Olivier text Geodiversitas 2015 2015-06-26 37 2 237 266 http://dx.doi.org/10.5252/g2015n2a5 journal article 10.5252/g2015n2a5 1638-9395 4535125 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0117CBA4-4CE0-4431-B5F6-721F998C72C7 Meles meles Linnaeus, 1758 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — NISP =25; MNI =10. 1989-1992 sample: 1 left c; 1 canine; 2 thoracic vertebrae; 1 right scapula; 1 right radius; 1 left radius; 1 right ulna; 2 right metacarpals IV; 1 left metacarpal IV; 1 left metacarpal V ; 1 right femur; 1 right innominate; 1 left femur; 1 femur; 1 patella; 2 right tibiae; 1 left tibia; 2 right metatarsals IV; 1 left metatarsal V ; 1 first phalanx; 1 third phalanx. DESCRIPTION The badger M. meles is frequently found in Pleistocene samples. His role in bone assemblage disturbance and stratigraphic significance are regularly evoked ( Clot & Duranthon 1990 ; Mallye 2007 ). It is clearly attested in Fouvent (NISP=25; MNI=10); the type of preservation/alteration of the concerned specimens supports their contemporaneity with the bulk of inventoried material. Their robustness and morphological features perfectly fit those of M. meles . In particular, the greatest lengths (GL) of all three metacarpals IV (36, 32.4, and 32.5 mm , respectively) fall within the size range of Pleistocene badgers (between 28 and 32.5 mm ; Ambros 2006 ) even if one of them appears larger than the compared data. During the Late Pleistocene interval in Europe, Meles is only represented by M. meles ( Kurtén 1968 ; Mallye & Guérin 2002 ). Accordingly, we have referred the concerned specimens to that species.