The vertebrate fauna of the type Cromerian

The rich vertebrate fauna of the Upper Freshwater Bed of West Runton, Norfolk. England (pollen assemblage zone Cr II) is described and related to vegetational conditions based on analysis of fossil pollen and macroscopic plant remains. The general picture is of fishes associated with aquatic plants in a slow-flowing river, amphibious vertebrates living in water-side habitats, and a terrestrial fauna generally reflecting a regional mixed oak forest cover, but also including grassland voles associated with local herb-dominated communities on the river floodplain. The fossil assemblage appears to have accumulated largely from the remains of terrestrial vertebrates washed in as the river eroded its banks. A reassessment of the fossil voles indicates that only five species occur, although ten were previously described. The sparse fauna from the overlying marine gravel (zone Cr III) is also discussed. On the basis of vertebrate faunas and other evidence, sites in England and Germany arc correlated with the type Cromerian.