Paleoecology of the Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from Béon 1, Montréal-du-Gers (late early Miocene, SW France): Insights from dental microwear texture analysis, mesowear, and enamel hypoplasia

Abstract

The late early Miocene Béon 1 locality has yielded an abundant vertebrate fauna with more than 5,000 remains assigned to four rhinocerotid species: the stem rhinocerotine Plesiaceratherium mirallesi, the teleoceratines Prosantorhinus douvillei and Brachypotherium brachypus , and the early-diverging elasmotheriine Hispanotherium beonense . Such a profusion of closely related large herbivore species co-occurring raises questions about habitat capacity and niche partitioning. To investigate potential niche partitioning of Béon 1 rhinocerotids, we studied their ecology through texture microwear stress between the low scores suggesting browsing preferences, microwear subtle dietary