DIETARY TRAITS OF LATE MIOCENE HIPPARIONS FROM MARAGHEH REVEALED THROUGH DENTAL WEAR

This study investigates the palaeoecology of fossil perissodactyls (equids) from late Miocene Maragheh, northwestern Iran. We used dental micro- and mesowear techniques to draw robust inferences about equid paleoenvironment. Mesowear microwear analyses were applied upper molars three species hipparionine horses. For this purpose, we investigated samples fossiliferous localities: Rohanion, Azim, Cizdahaban. Six specimens analyzed for enamel meso- results compared an extensive database extant ungulates. Results indicated overlap Maragheh hipparions with dietary signal grazers grass-dominated mixed feeders. is consistent supposed vegetational habitat proposed by previous studies. The different had similar diets consuming a mixture plants but preference grasses. These are paleoenvironmental reconstructions dominated open grassland areas among more wooded settings.