Quaternary history of Meles meles in Bulgaria (Carnivora: Mustelidae)

An analysis of the past geographical and altitudinal distribution of the European badger (Meles meles) remains in Bulgaria is given. The paper summarizes all scattered data gathered during the last 120 years on the distribution of the species. Data from 42 localities (Early Pleistocene – Subrecent) from 20 out of 28 provinces of the country are presented. The Quaternary fossil record proves a wide distribution of M. meles in the lowland and hilly landscapes of northern and south-eastern Bulgaria. The localities are spread at the range of 0–580 m a. s. l., although majority of them were located at the altitudes of 155–370 m a. s. l. Almost all data originate from the prehistoric cave dwellings of the Paleolithic man, and later prehistoric, antique, and medieval settlements. No differences were found in the distribution of the species in Bulgaria during the Pleistocene and Holocene.