Fossil and subfossil record of vertebrate animals (Vertebrata J.-B. Lamarck, 1801) along the Western Black Sea Coast (Bulgaria)

In twenty-five sites along the Western Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria (Oligocene to subrecent) a total of 153 taxa were recorded: Osteichthyes - 3, Amphibia - 1, Reptilia - 6, Ayes - 74, Mammalia - 69. Among them two taxa of birds and 37 taxa of mammals are fossil. One site is of Paleogene age, fourteen - of Neogene and ten - of Quaternary. Eight of the recorded species and one subspecies disappeared from the country during the historical era: Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Panthera leo, Bos primigenius, Castor fiber, Grus grus, Otis tarda, Bison bonasus (now reintroduced), and Equus ferus ferus. In Dobrich Region were uncovered five sites, in Varna Region - ten, and in Burgas Region - ten. Neogene localities reveal occurrence of many taxa from the groups with a more southern recent distribution proboscideans, hyaenids, equids, chalicotheriids, antelopes, etc.