Tesakov A.S. 2004. Biostratigraphy of Middle Pliocene -- Eopleistocene of Eastern Europe (based on small mammals). Moscow: Nauka, 247 p. [in Russian].

Abstract. The monograph presents a new biozonal stratigraphic scheme of continental deposits of Middle Pliocene - Eopleistocene (3.6 - 0.8 Ma) of southern Eastern Europe. The scheme is based on concurrent range zones of voles, rodents of the subfamily Arvicolinae. The zones are diagnosed by numerical characters of hypsodonty in several phyletic lineages of voles. All zones are correlated with the magnetic polarity time scale, regional stages of the stratigraphic scheme of the Eastern Paratethys, and with continental scales of Western Europe. The zones have a considerable correlative significance in middle latitudes of Europe and Western Asia. For the first time criteria of detecting of redeposition of fossil rhizodont arvicolids are elaborated. The systematic part of the monograph contains the revision and monographic description of fossil voles that belonging to genera Mimomys, Pitymimomys, Borsodia, Allophaiomys, Prolagurus, and Lagurodon.

Lopatin A.V, Tesakov A.S. 2004. The fossil shrew Cretasorex arkhangelskyi Nessov et Gureev, 1981 from Uzbekistan - the systematic position among Soricidae, taxonomic status and geological age. Russian Journal of Theriology, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 5-8.

Abstract. Cretasorex arkhangelskyi Nessov et Gureev, 1981 was described from the Upper Cretaceous of Uzbekistan as the earliest member of Soricidae. Later, it was reevaluated as the Late Cenozoic soricid. The reexamination of the holotype demonstrates the reference of this soricid to the tribe Soricini, and, more specifically, the group of Sorex s.l. Indirectly it suggests an age not older than Late Miocene. The separate generic rank is possible for this form.

Kuznetsova T.V., Tesakov A.S. 2004. New data on Pleistocene fauna of small mammals from the northeastern coast of the Laptev Sea (Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island and Bykovsky Peninsula). In: Nikolsky P.A. & Pitulko V.V. (eds.) Natural history of the Russian East Arctics in Pleistocene and Holocene. Moscow: Geos, pp. 27-31. [in Russian].

Abstract. Remains of the Pleistocene small mammals of the Laptev Sea northeastern coast have been studied. The majority of the material originates from redeposited fossil associations. The fauna from the southern coast of the Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island is dated to the Middle-Late Pleistocene by the evolution level of the collared lemmings. Remains of the Middendorf's vole (Microtus cf. middendorffii) and large-toothed redback vole (Clethrionomys rufocanus) were first identified from these locations. Morphotypical variability of collared lemmings allows dating of the small mammals assemblage from the Bykovsky Peninsula to Late Pleistocene.

Vangengeim E.A., Pevzner M.A., Tesakov A.S. 2005. Ruscinian and Lower Villafranchian: age of boundaries and position in magnetochronological scale. Stratigraphy. Geological Correlation, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 530-546.

Abstract. Analysis of magnetostratigraphic records and mammalian taxonomic composition of the terminal Miocene-middle Pliocene localities in Western and Eastern Europe, Western Siberia, Mongolia, and China revealed a significant faunal reorganization at about 6 Ma ago close to the C3An/Gilbert paleomagnetic reversal. The Turolian-Ruscinian boundary should be placed therefore stratigraphically below the Miocene-Pliocene boundary adopted at present. Zone MN14A preceding Zone MN14 is suggested to be the lowermost subdivision of the Ruscinian. The Ruscinian-Villafranchian boundary is close to the Gilbert-Gauss reversal and to the lower-middle Pliocene boundary. The top of the lower Villafranchian corresponding to the end of the Gauss Chron is slightly older than the middle-upper Pliocene boundary. Range of the lower Villafranchian inferable from fauna of large mammals coincides with Zone MN16 of rodents scale, typical of which is the Uryv assemblage of small mammals in the Russian Plain.

Tesakov A.S., Pismenskaya G.A. 2005. Recent data on fossil mammals from Upper Pliocene deposits of the eastern Stavropol Region. In: Podobina V.M. (ed.) Evlution of life on the Earth. Tomsk: Tomsk State University, pp. 309-314.

Abstract. Two Late Pliocene localities in the eastern Stavropol region (Northern Caucasus, Russia), associated with shallow marine Akchagylian sediments (Sablya) or overlying fluviatile deposits (Georgievsk), yielded small mammal remains. Both associations consist of medium hypsodont rooted voles of the Mimomys group, including Mimomys praepliocaenicus. Evolutionary stage of discovered species allows to date the faunas to Late Pliocene, MN17, late Villanyian and regional zone MNR3.

Tesakov A.S. 2005. Pliocene voles (Pliomys, Arvicolinae, Rodentia) from Odessa Catacombs. Russian Journal of Theriology, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 123-135.

Abstract. The primitive arvicolid from the fauna of Odessa Catacombs (terminal Ruscinian, MN15, Early Pliocene) is described as a new species of the genus Pliomys, P. destinatus sp. nov. This form is more advanced than Pliomys kowalskii from Late Ruscinain faunas of Moldova and Ukraine in stronger reduced mimomyian ridge and enamel islet of first lower molar. P. destinatus sp.nov. is supposed to be a direct ancestor of Early Villanyian (MN16, Middle Pliocene) Pliomys jalpugensis from southern Ukraine.