Ecomorphology and feeding behavior of the Pleistocene South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)

The fossil record of the South American Pleistocene presents two Equidae taxa: Hippidion Owen and Equus (Amerhippus) Hoffstetter. These equids were possibly sympatric and, although being considered closely related, present distinct cranial morphologies. This study aimed to verify possible variations...

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Autores principales: Avilla, Leonardo Santos, Bernardes, C., Sicuro, F. L., Winck, G. R., Alves Leite, M.
Formato: Objeto de conferencia Resumen
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2010
Materias:
Ciencias Naturales
Paleontología
Ecomorphology
Feeding behavior
Pleistocene
South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/16818
Aporte de:
SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata
id I19-R120-10915-16818
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Naturales
Paleontología
Ecomorphology
Feeding behavior
Pleistocene
South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
spellingShingle Ciencias Naturales
Paleontología
Ecomorphology
Feeding behavior
Pleistocene
South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
Avilla, Leonardo Santos
Bernardes, C.
Sicuro, F. L.
Winck, G. R.
Alves Leite, M.
Ecomorphology and feeding behavior of the Pleistocene South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
topic_facet Ciencias Naturales
Paleontología
Ecomorphology
Feeding behavior
Pleistocene
South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
description The fossil record of the South American Pleistocene presents two Equidae taxa: Hippidion Owen and Equus (Amerhippus) Hoffstetter. These equids were possibly sympatric and, although being considered closely related, present distinct cranial morphologies. This study aimed to verify possible variations on the masticatory patterns and dental wear between both genera, as well as to compare their rostral morphology and functional differences related to feeding habits. We performed quantitative analyses of macrowear and occlusion surface area of teeth from Toca dos Ossos (Bahia, Brazil). The morphofunctional analysis was conducted using photographs of specimens housed at the Museo de La Plata (La Plata, Argentina) and Museu de Ciências Naturais PUC Minas (Minas Gerais, Brazil), and based on the anatomy of the extant horse Equus caballus Linnaeus, due to its resemblance to E. (Amerhippus). Results showed that E. (Amerhippus) exhibits a more significant macrowear on the antero-posterior region of the teeth, while Hippidion has a more uniform wear. Analyses of occlusion surface area confirm the difference on the structure of dental enamel between genera, where Hippidion presents more complex folds. The morphofuctional analysis indicates that the rostral portion and the premaxillary shape of E. (Amerhippus) are similar to E. caballus. However, based on anatomical studies of the premaxillary region of other extinct ungulates, Hippidion exhibits morphological structures compatible with the presence of a vestibular proboscis and premaxillary region usually found on browsing ungulates. These results indicated that E. (Amerhippus) had the capacity to feed on more abrasive food items than Hippidion. Nevertheless, the morphofunctional dissimilarities on their skull suggest marked variations on their ecomorphological strategies. Therefore, these two different approaches corroborate our point of view that Hippidion and E. (Amerhippus), despite their possible sympatry, presented consistent mechanisms related to the reduction of niche overlap concerning the partition of food resources.
format Objeto de conferencia
Resumen
author Avilla, Leonardo Santos
Bernardes, C.
Sicuro, F. L.
Winck, G. R.
Alves Leite, M.
author_facet Avilla, Leonardo Santos
Bernardes, C.
Sicuro, F. L.
Winck, G. R.
Alves Leite, M.
author_sort Avilla, Leonardo Santos
title Ecomorphology and feeding behavior of the Pleistocene South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
title_short Ecomorphology and feeding behavior of the Pleistocene South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
title_full Ecomorphology and feeding behavior of the Pleistocene South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
title_fullStr Ecomorphology and feeding behavior of the Pleistocene South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
title_full_unstemmed Ecomorphology and feeding behavior of the Pleistocene South American equids (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae)
title_sort ecomorphology and feeding behavior of the pleistocene south american equids (mammalia, perissodactyla, equidae)
publishDate 2010
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/16818
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