Dental wear analysis of Early Pleistocene ungulates from Quibas (Murcia, Spain): A comparative perspective with other Iberian sites
Ramírez-Pedraza, Iván (Universitat de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals)
Agustí, Jordi 1954- (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Piñero, Pedro (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)

Date:	2026
Abstract:	The Early Pleistocene site of Quibas preserves a rich terrestrial vertebrate assemblage, dated between 1. 1 and 0. 9 Ma, providing an opportunity to investigate ungulate dietary strategies and habitat use during a crucial phase of hominin dispersal in the Iberian Peninsula. Dental wear analyses of Equus altidens, Hemitragus alba, Praeovibos mediterraneus, and Dama vallonnetensis, combining long-term tooth mesowear and short-term occlusal microwear, reveal a broad spectrum of feeding behaviours in these large vertebrates, ranging from browsing to mixed feeding and grazing, with evidence of seasonal dietary shifts. The occurrence of high pit frequencies, puncture pits, and gouges suggests occasional ingestion of exogenous grit, consistent with the use of open and arid habitats. Integration of dental wear results with previous microfaunal palaeoecological reconstructions indicates a heterogeneous landscape composed of grasslands interspersed with wooded patches. A comparative analysis with other Early Pleistocene Iberian sites reveals recurring patterns of dietary flexibility among ungulates, reflecting the exploitation of mosaic environments. However, no distinct landscape-related pattern emerges from dental wear analyses when comparing sites with and without hominin presence.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación RYC2023-044218-I Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2024-156295NB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2024-157622NB-I00 Generalitat de Catalunya 2021/SGR-1238 Generalitat de Catalunya 2021/SGR-01237 Agencia Estatal de Investigación CEX2024-01485-M
Rights:	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, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Dental microwear ; Dental mesowear ; Diet ; Habitat ; Mammals ; Southern Europe
Published in:	Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Vol. 689 (May 2026) , art. 113649, ISSN 1872-616X

DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2026.113649

9 p, 4.4 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles