The evolutionary ecology of the endemic European Eocene Plagiolophus (Mammalia: Perissodactyla)

The climatic cooling that began in the late middle Eocene and culminated Eocene-Oligocene transition meant major changes Palaeotheriidae (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) biodiversity Europe could have caused appearance of new dietary strategies. This work is first to study spatiotemporal response one palaeotheriid genus (Plagiolophus) environmental ecological using three proxies: hypsodonty, mesowear dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA). DMTA applied for time palaeotheriids. high diversity wide chrono-spatial distribution Plagiolophus make it possible evaluate variations, including palaeodiet. We five samples from early Oligocene western Iberia central order (1) infer lifetime palaeodiet; (2) short-term (3) test temporal spatial trends. All present an exclusion abrasive foodstuff given low hypsodonty index; dominance browsing score; tough foliage hard items their diet information. These factors point as a highly selective feeder fed on plants with same features irrespective chronology or location: (leaves monocots dicots) avoiding lignified materials, without seasonal variations.