Abstract:

The caves in southern China, especially those in the Bubing Basin and Chongzuo region of Guangxi, yield abundant Quaternary mammal fossils. In recent years, a large number of mammal faunas from different Pleistocene periods have been discovered there. These fossil materials have significantly contributed to laying the foundation for understanding the evolution of the Pleistocene mammal fauna. However, due to the scarcity of reports on the late Pleistocene to early Holocene faunas, the evolution of the mammal fauna during this crucial transitional period remains poorly understood.

Recent research on the Zhongshan rock shelter site in the Bubing Basin, Guangxi, which dates back approximately 14,523~8,472 BP cal, has provided new perspectives on this transitional phase. Based on the detailed identification of mammalian tooth fossils unearthed from the Zhongshan rock - shelter site, the fauna comprises 31 species belonging to 17 families and 6 orders, mainly consisting of medium to large mammals. Among them, Primates and Artiodactyla are the most abundant, reflecting their dominant position in the fauna.

The fauna from the end of the Pleistocene to the beginning of the Holocene, represented by the Zhongshan rock - shelter site in the Bubing Basin, is mainly characterized by the replacement of extinct species by extant ones. Since the early Pleistocene, the series of cave faunas in the Bubing Basin has shown a gradual decrease in the proportion of extinct species and an increase in extant species. The study of the fauna at the Zhongshan rock shelter site is particularly significant as it fills a critical gap in the biochronological sequence documenting the transition from the Pleistocene fossil fauna to the Holocene modern fauna. This provides a valuable reference for understanding the evolutionary dynamics of Quaternary mammalian faunas in southern China.

The fossil record highlights the ecological changes in the region during this transitional period, presenting a clearer picture of how mammalian communities adapted to environmental changes. Notably, the richness in the types of primate and deer fossils at the site reflects a diverse ecological landscape dominated by forests. This indicates that the Bubing Basin experienced vegetation recovery after the Last Glacial Maximum, creating a favorable environment for both wildlife and human populations. The presence of biodiversity and abundant resources likely supported human activities in this region.

In summary, the Zhongshan rock shelter site provides crucial evidence for understanding the late Pleistocene to early Holocene faunal transition in southern China. This research establishes a fundamental framework for further studies on Quaternary mammalian evolution and its environmental context.

Key words: Bubing Basin, Zhongshan rock shelter site, faunal, Pleistocene, Holocene