European Roller Coracias garrulus in the Pleistocene and Holocene of Croatia

Abstract

Fossil remains of the European Roller Coracias garrulus in Croatia are relatively rare. The European Roller has been found at four sites situated along the Adriatic coast: Marlera I and Šandalja II in the northern Adriatic, and Vela Spila and Markova Spilja on the southern part. The oldest find is from Marlera I, which dates back to the Late Pleistocene (Marine Isotope Stage 3-MIS 3) and the youngest are the Holocene (MIS 1) finds at Vela Spila and Markova Spilja. Immature bones were found in Vela Spila deposits, indicating breeding during the Late Pleistocene in the southern Adriatic. So far, the European Roller has not been determined in deposits from continental Croatia.