Grouse (Aves: Phasianidae: Tetraonini) from the Early Pleistocene of Crimea, and the Taxonomic Status of Lagopus atavus

Remains of Lyrurus partium Kretzoi, 1962 and “Lagopus” atavus Jánossy, 1974 (tribe Tetraonini, family Phasianidae, order Galliformes) are described from the Lower Pleistocene of the Taurida Cave (Crimea); these are the oldest finds of the grouse in Eurasia outside of Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland). The discovery of the primitive black grouse Lyrurus partium indicates that these birds were part of the savanna-like faunal associations of the Northern Black Sea region (along with Otididae and Struthionidae) in the Early Pleistocene. The origin and evolutionary history of the modern Caucasian black grouse T. mlokosiewiczi Taczanowski, 1875 is discussed. The complete tarsometatarsus of “Lagopus” atavus from the Taurida Cave indicates a separate generic status of this poorly studied Plio-Pleistocene form, which is here transferred to the genus Paralyra gen. nov. Therefore, the presence of ptarmigans (genus Lagopus) in the preglacial Plio-Pleistocene faunas of Eastern Europe is not confirmed.