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On the morphology of the astragalus and calcaneus of the amphicyonids (Carnivora, Mammalia) from the Paleogene of Europe: implications for the ecology of the European bear-dogs
- Source :
- Geodiversitas, Geodiversitas, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris, 2020, 42 (18), pp.305-325. ⟨10.5252/geodiversitas2020v42a18⟩
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Zenodo, 2020.
-
Abstract
- The Paleogene mammals of Europe are rarely known from partial or complete skeletons. As a result, their systematics and ecology are often solely based on dental characters and postcranial remains, when available, are usually neglected. This explains why the locomotion of mammals of the Eocene-Oligocene transition, the “Grande Coupure”, is poorly known. The aim of this study is to describe the tarsal bones (astragali and calcanei) and characterize the locomotion of amphicyonid carnivorans, one of the most abundant mammalian predator groups from the Phosphorites du Quercy (France) sites. The identification of taxa and the characterization of both posture and locomotion were carried out using four criteria: relative abundance (in comparison with dental data), morphology, size, and body mass. Seven morphotypes, four among astragali and three among calcanei, are identified as Amphicyonidae and show various postures: plantigrade, semi-digitigrade, and digitigrade. One morphotype of the astragalus and one of the calcaneus are identified as Cynodictis lacustrisGervais, 1852, which exhibits a digitigrade posture. The study of postcranial bones, such as tarsals, allows for a better understanding of the ecology of these animals and deserves more interest in future morphological and phylogenetic studies.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
Systematics
010506 paleontology
Plantigrade
Ecology (disciplines)
Carnivora
Postcrania
[SDV.BID]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity
Biology
10125 Paleontological Institute and Museum
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
Cynodictis
Animalia
Chordata
1907 Geology
ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Taxonomy
Ecology
[SDV.BA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology
Paleontology
Geology
Digitigrade
Biodiversity
biology.organism_classification
Caniformia
1911 Paleontology
Taxon
560 Fossils & prehistoric life
Mammalia
Amphicyonidae
[SDU.STU.PG]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Paleontology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 12809659
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Geodiversitas, Geodiversitas, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris, 2020, 42 (18), pp.305-325. ⟨10.5252/geodiversitas2020v42a18⟩
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....2e737afee04cda89f3e1df0ee66a58d1