THE TUROLIAN HIPPARIONS FROM CIOBURCIU SITE (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA): SYSTEMATICS AND PALEODIET
The Cioburciu hipparions, Republic of Moldova, are included in a Turolian assemblage, approximately dated between 9 and 7 million years. We assess herein their taxonomic position, systematics, biogeography and paleodietary habits. We have undertaken standard equid measurements as well as accessing...
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Milano University Press
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia |
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| Online Access: | https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/15810 |
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| author | BOGDAN G. RĂŢOI Bogdan Stelian Haiduc GINA M. SEMPREBON PAUL ŢIBULEAC RAYMOND L. BERNOR |
| author_facet | BOGDAN G. RĂŢOI Bogdan Stelian Haiduc GINA M. SEMPREBON PAUL ŢIBULEAC RAYMOND L. BERNOR |
| author_sort | BOGDAN G. RĂŢOI |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The Cioburciu hipparions, Republic of Moldova, are included in a Turolian assemblage, approximately dated between 9 and 7 million years. We assess herein their taxonomic position, systematics, biogeography and paleodietary habits. We have undertaken standard equid measurements as well as accessing the Vera Eisenmann website for measurements and images and analysed craniodental and postcranial elements. This assemblage has been determined to be of a medium-sized hipparion with an elongated muzzle, well developed preorbital fossa that is dorsoventrally extensive and placed close to the orbit, lacking a caninus fossa and having a prominent and deep buccinator fossa. As such, this assemblage is referable to Cremohipparion moldavicum Gromova 1952 common to the Western Ukraine, Balkans, Romania, Republic of Georgia, Turkey and Iran. We have employed a combination of gross cheek tooth wear morphology utilizing the mesowear method and a microscopic analysis of occlusal enamel scars utilizing the light microscope microwear technique. These complementary paleodietary methods indicate that these hipparions engaged in a mixed feeding dietary behavior and that the Cioburciu sample of C. moldavicum likely alternated its diet between browsing and grazing seasonally and/or regionally. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on average scratch and pit numbers positions this taxon among extant mixed feeding ungulates. Large pitting and gouging assessed through the microwear technique indicates occasional consumption of relatively coarser foods than typical mixed feeders or grazers or grit-laden food just prior to death while mesowear indicates that this was not a lifetime habit.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:10:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cbaece1070914529a6257cca5a69da18 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0035-6883 2039-4942 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:10:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Milano University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia |
| spelling | doaj.art-cbaece1070914529a6257cca5a69da182023-09-02T19:11:51ZengMilano University PressRivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia0035-68832039-49422022-04-01128210.54103/2039-4942/15810THE TUROLIAN HIPPARIONS FROM CIOBURCIU SITE (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA): SYSTEMATICS AND PALEODIETBOGDAN G. RĂŢOI0Bogdan Stelian Haiduc1GINA M. SEMPREBON2PAUL ŢIBULEAC3RAYMOND L. BERNOR4Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Department of Geology, Carol I Bd., No. 22, 700505, Iaşi, RomaniaAlexandru Ioan Cuza University, Department of Geology, Carol I Bd., No. 22, 700505, Iaşi, RomaniaDepartment of Biology, Bay Path University, Longmeadow, MA 01106, USAAlexandru Ioan Cuza University, Department of Geology, Carol I Bd., No. 22, 700505, Iaşi, RomaniaCollege of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Laboratory of Evolutionary 9 Biology, Howard University, Washington D.C. 20059, USA The Cioburciu hipparions, Republic of Moldova, are included in a Turolian assemblage, approximately dated between 9 and 7 million years. We assess herein their taxonomic position, systematics, biogeography and paleodietary habits. We have undertaken standard equid measurements as well as accessing the Vera Eisenmann website for measurements and images and analysed craniodental and postcranial elements. This assemblage has been determined to be of a medium-sized hipparion with an elongated muzzle, well developed preorbital fossa that is dorsoventrally extensive and placed close to the orbit, lacking a caninus fossa and having a prominent and deep buccinator fossa. As such, this assemblage is referable to Cremohipparion moldavicum Gromova 1952 common to the Western Ukraine, Balkans, Romania, Republic of Georgia, Turkey and Iran. We have employed a combination of gross cheek tooth wear morphology utilizing the mesowear method and a microscopic analysis of occlusal enamel scars utilizing the light microscope microwear technique. These complementary paleodietary methods indicate that these hipparions engaged in a mixed feeding dietary behavior and that the Cioburciu sample of C. moldavicum likely alternated its diet between browsing and grazing seasonally and/or regionally. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on average scratch and pit numbers positions this taxon among extant mixed feeding ungulates. Large pitting and gouging assessed through the microwear technique indicates occasional consumption of relatively coarser foods than typical mixed feeders or grazers or grit-laden food just prior to death while mesowear indicates that this was not a lifetime habit. https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/15810Cremohipparion moldavicum; Systematics; Mesowear; Microwear. |
| spellingShingle | BOGDAN G. RĂŢOI Bogdan Stelian Haiduc GINA M. SEMPREBON PAUL ŢIBULEAC RAYMOND L. BERNOR THE TUROLIAN HIPPARIONS FROM CIOBURCIU SITE (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA): SYSTEMATICS AND PALEODIET Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia Cremohipparion moldavicum; Systematics; Mesowear; Microwear. |
| title | THE TUROLIAN HIPPARIONS FROM CIOBURCIU SITE (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA): SYSTEMATICS AND PALEODIET |
| title_full | THE TUROLIAN HIPPARIONS FROM CIOBURCIU SITE (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA): SYSTEMATICS AND PALEODIET |
| title_fullStr | THE TUROLIAN HIPPARIONS FROM CIOBURCIU SITE (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA): SYSTEMATICS AND PALEODIET |
| title_full_unstemmed | THE TUROLIAN HIPPARIONS FROM CIOBURCIU SITE (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA): SYSTEMATICS AND PALEODIET |
| title_short | THE TUROLIAN HIPPARIONS FROM CIOBURCIU SITE (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA): SYSTEMATICS AND PALEODIET |
| title_sort | turolian hipparions from cioburciu site republic of moldova systematics and paleodiet |
| topic | Cremohipparion moldavicum; Systematics; Mesowear; Microwear. |
| url | https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/15810 |
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