Neuroanatomy and palaeoecology of the Early Pleistocene Dama-like deer from Pirro Nord (Apulia, Italian Peninsula)
Strani, Flavia (Universidad de Zaragoza. Departamento de Ciencias de La Tierra)
Di Folco, Francesca (Sapienza Università di Roma. Dipartimento di Scienze Della Terra)
Iurino, Dawid A (Università Degli Studi di Milano. Dipartimento di Scienze Della Terra "Ardito Desio")
Cherin, Marco (Università degli Studi di Perugia. Dipartimento di Fisica e Geologia)
Pushkina, Diana (University of Helsinki. Department of Geosciences and Geography)
Rook, Lorenzo (Università di Firenze. Dipartimento di Scienze Della Terra)
Sardella, Raffaele (Sapienza Università di Roma. Dipartimento di Scienze Della Terra)
Azanza, Beatriz (Universidad de Zaragoza. Departamento de Ciencias de La Tierra)
DeMiguel, Daniel (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)

Data:	2024
Resum:	Medium-sized deer are frequently found in Early Pleistocene fossiliferous deposits of Southern Europe, and hence they represent a reference group for the Villafranchian fauna. Their evolutionary history is still highly debated, as multiple classifications and systematic revisions have been proposed with specimens being ascribed to several genera such as Pseudodama, Metacervoceros, Euraxis, Praeelaphus, Axis, Dama, or Cervus. Whereas most studies focus on the taxonomy of the group, a few have addressed how these cervids evolved in relation to the major Early Pleistocene climatic events such as the onset of the Quaternary glaciations. A remarkably rich collection of Dama-like deer has been unearthed from the Early Pleistocene site of Pirro Nord (Apricena, south-eastern Italy). Here we analyse palaeoecological and palaeoneurological data of the Pirro Nord sample to investigate both habitat occupation and the evolutionary history of this group during the Early Pleistocene. To do so, we integrate dietary proxies (dental wear patterns and stable isotope signal) with morphological data from a virtual endocast of a well-preserved male specimen, a largely unexplored research path in cervid palaeobiology studies. Moreover, palaeoneurological data may also provide clues to solve the systematic issue of this group. Dental mesowear results point to a long-term mixed diet for the Pirro Nord deer, while a leaning towards a grazing behaviour is suggested by dental microwear patterns. The range of the stable isotope δ13C ratios suggests that it foraged on abrasive water-stressed C3 vegetation in warm woodland and semi-open habitats. Palaeoneurological data seems to confirm a closer affinity in the endocranial morphology of this taxon to the extant fallow deer Dama compared to other Early Pleistocene forms. Our research represents a novel approach to the study of Early Pleistocene fossil deer palaeoecology that can be extended also to other groups to investigate their evolutionary history in relation to climate changes.
Ajuts:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación FJC2020-042982-I
Drets:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Llengua:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Matèria:	Cervidae ; Early pleistocene ; Mesowear ; Microwear ; Palaeoecology ; Palaeoneurology ; Stable isotopes
Publicat a:	Quaternary science reviews, Vol. 334 (June 2024) , art. 108719, ISSN 1873-457X

DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108719

15 p, 9.5 MB

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