Dental microwear analysis in Gliridae (Rodentia): methodological issues and paleodiet inferences based on "Armantomys" from the Madrid Basin (Spain)

  • A. Oliver Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid
  • V. Hernández-Ballarín Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid
  • P. López-Guerrero Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ Jose Antonio Novais, 2, 28040 Madrid Departamento de Geología Sedimentaria y Cambio Ambiental, Instituto de Geociencias IGEO (CSIC, UCM), C/ José Antonio Novais, 2, 28040, Madrid
  • I. García-Paredes Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ Jose Antonio Novais, 2, 28040 Madrid Departamento de Geología Sedimentaria y Cambio Ambiental, Instituto de Geociencias IGEO (CSIC, UCM), C/ José Antonio Novais, 2, 28040, Madrid
  • M.A. Álvarez-Sierra Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ Jose Antonio Novais, 2, 28040 Madrid Departamento de Geología Sedimentaria y Cambio Ambiental, Instituto de Geociencias IGEO (CSIC, UCM), C/ José Antonio Novais, 2, 28040, Madrid
  • A.R. Gómez Cano Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ Jose Antonio Novais, 2, 28040 Madrid Departamento de Geología Sedimentaria y Cambio Ambiental, Instituto de Geociencias IGEO (CSIC, UCM), C/ José Antonio Novais, 2, 28040, Madrid
  • B.A. García Yelo Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ Jose Antonio Novais, 2, 28040 Madrid
  • G.M. Alcalde Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ Jose Antonio Novais, 2, 28040 Madrid
  • P. Peláez-Campomanes Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid
Keywords: glirids, small-mammals, local biozone E, Aragonian, middle Miocene

Abstract

In the present study we analyze the microwear of the species included in the lineage Armantomys aragonensis-A. tricristatus of two samples from two middle Miocene localities from the Madrid Basin (El Cañaveral and Casa Montero). The methodological part of the study compares light stereomicroscope photographs from resin casts and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) photographs from original material. Furthermore two regions of the tooth crown (the most lingual part of the anteroloph, and the most lingual part of the protoloph) and two homologous regions of first and second upper molars have been analyzed. The paleoecological part includes the results of the microwear analyses of the two species included in the lineage A. aragonensis-A. tricristatus. The replacement of A. aragonensis with A. tricristatus in the Madrid Basin occurred during the Middle Miocene Climate Transition (MMCT) and is marked by a change in dental morphology. Therefore, in order to infer changes in diet associated to a shift in the environment, we checked for correlations on microwear features between the two different morphologies of the species.

The two methodologies tested, ESEM on original teeth and light stereomicroscopy on resin casts, showed similar results on microwear analysis in the glirid Armantomys. Besides, both regions of the tooth crown and dental elements showed the same microwear patterns. The substitution of the species included in the lineage Armantomys aragonensis-A. tricristatus might not imply a change in diet.

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Published
2014-01-21
How to Cite
Oliver A., Hernández-Ballarín V., López-Guerrero P., García-Paredes I., Álvarez-Sierra M., Gómez Cano A., García Yelo B., Alcalde G. y Peláez-Campomanes P. (2014). Dental microwear analysis in Gliridae (Rodentia): methodological issues and paleodiet inferences based on "Armantomys" from the Madrid Basin (Spain). Journal of Iberian Geology, 40(1), 179-211. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_JIGE.2014.v40.n1.44096