Geraads D., Spassov N., Hristova L., Markov G. N. & Tzankov T. 2011. — Upper Miocene mammals from Strumyani, South-Western Bulgaria. Geodiversitas 33 (3): 451–484. The localities of Strumyani in the Struma valley (South-Western Bulgaria) yield a rich assemblage of large mammals, including more than 20 species, hipparions and rhinos being especially well represented. Many species are commonly found in the Balkano-Iranian province, but there are also some rarely found taxa, such as Tapirus Brünnich, 1771, Dorcatherium Kaup, 1833, and a cervid that looks different from other contemporaneous finds. The instantaneous nature of the deposition shows that the association of taxa with likely diverse ecological requirements reflects a truly mosaic environment. The close similarity of the faunal association with that of Pikermi implies a similar middle Turolian age, although some differences suggest that Strumyani is earlier than this Greek locality. The issue of the age of Turolian sites of the Balkans is discussed. Mammifères du Miocène supérieur de Strumyani, Bulgarie du sud-ouest. Les localités de Strumyani dans la vallée du Struma (sud-ouest de la Bulgarie) livrent un riche assemblage de grands mammifères, comprenant plus de 20 espè ces, les hipparions et les rhinocéros étant particulièrement bien représentés. De nombreuses espèces sont fréquemment rencontrées dans la province balkanoiranienne, mais on trouve aussi quelques taxons rares, comme Tapirus Brünnich, 1771, Dorcatherium Kaup, 1833, et un cervidé qui semble différent des formes contemporaines. La nature instantanée du dépôt montre que l'association de taxons à exigences écologiques probablement différentes reflète vraiment un environnement mosaïque. L'étroite ressemblance de l'association faunique avec celle de Pikermi implique un âge semblable, Turolien moyen, bien que quelques différences suggèrent que Strumyani est plus ancien que ce site grec. La question de l'âge des sites turoliens des Balkans est discutée.

The discovery of rich, well preserved skull material in the latest Middle Pleistocene deposits of Mishin Kamik cave (N-W Bulgaria) presents an opportunity for a new analysis of the taxonomy and the phylogeny of the so called “small cave bears”. Not all the small cave bears known would have necessarily had a common origin, the size decrease could be related in a number of cases to a parallelism. The bear from Mishin Kamik is identical with “Ursus rossicus” Borissiak from Krasnodar (S. Russia). Both these samples must be referred to U. savini Andrews from Bacton near Cromer (England). The specimens from Krasnodar and Mishin Kamik could be classified as U. sa. rossicus, a late form of the species. This species may have affinities with some Middle Pleistocene Siberian forms. U. savini is a small but very robust spelaeoid bear which is more advanced in a number of features than U. deningeri. In several aspects it attained the evolutional adaptations of the cave bears of the U. spelaeus-U. ingressus group and represents an independent lineage of spelaeoid bears. The Mishin Kamik population was adapted to a mosaic landscape of forests and open areas in hilly terrain. This bear had well developed grazing adaptations but had weak motor abilities.

Bone histology reveals the first record of titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Bulgaria