US EPA

2652209 

Journal Article 

Anisodon sp (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Chalicotheriidae) from the Turolian of Dorn-Durkheim 1 (Rheinhessen, Germany): morphology, phylogeny, and palaeoecology of the latest chalicothere in Central Europe 

Fahlke, JM; Coombs, MC; Semprebon, GM 

2013 

No 

Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments
ISSN: 1867-1594 

93 

2 

151-170 

10.1007/s12549-013-0119-7 

WOS:000319324600003 

The rich mammalian fauna of the Turolian fossil site Dorn-Durkheim 1 (Rheinhessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany) contains numerous remains of a chalicotheriine chalicothere. These are 171 dental remains, 1 fragment of a lower jaw symphysis, and 8 carpal and tarsal bones. A morphological description and comprehensive comparison with other Eurasian Chalicotheriinae are given. The Dorn-Durkheim 1 chalicothere was comparatively small in body size and resembled members of the Anisodon clade rather than Chalicotherium within the Chalicotheriinae. A phylogenetic analysis corroborates the assignment of the Dorn-Durkheim 1 chalicothere to Anisodon sp. We used low-magnification stereoscopic microwear analysis in order to reconstruct the diet of Anisodon sp. from Dorn-Durkheim 1. Counts of small pits are higher than in earlier Eurasian and American chalicotheres. Anisodon sp. from Dorn-Durkheim 1 most likely fed on leaves and fruit. There is no indication of the inclusion of highly abrasive material, grit, or dust in its diet. These results are in accordance with the interpretation of the Dorn-Durkheim 1 environment as a tropical savannah to woodland. The dating of the Dorn-Durkheim 1 fauna as Mammal Neogene (MN) 11 makes this Anisodon the latest known chalicothere in Central Europe. Based on morphological similarities with late Miocene chalicotheriines from Asia and southeastern Europe, we assume that it is an immigrant that arrived in the course of the expansion of faunas from the southeast at the beginning of the Turolian. 

Chalicotheriinae; Anisodon; Microwear; Palaeoecology; MN 11; Faunal turnover