Comments on "Equus species as stratigraphic markers. Reality or wishful thinking?" and "A review of Equus stenonis Cocchi (Perissodactyla, Equidae) and related forms" by A. Forsten

In this letter we comment on two recent papers by Forsten (1998, 1999). In the former, the author discusses the possibility of using horse species as stratigraphic markers. The latter is a review of Equus stenonis forms, and also emphasises this approach. Both papers are very interesting since one o f the most qualified specialists on fossil horses contributes there with he r own ideas to the open debate on the systematic and stratigraphic value of the European horses. However, we believe that some aspects of Forsten's pa pers can be analysed in a different way. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.