Dietary niches of terrestrial cercopithecines from the Plio-Pleistocene Shungura Formation, Ethiopia: evidence from Dental Microwear Texture Analysis

Chris-Alexander Plastiras,Jean-Renaud Boisserie,Antoine Souron,Florian Martin,Gildas Merceron

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32092-z

Abstract

This study aims to explore the feeding ecology of two terrestrial papionins, Papio and Theropithecus from the Shungura Formation in Ethiopia, the most complete stratigraphic and paleontological record of the African Plio-Pleistocene. Two aspects were evaluated using Dental Microwear Texture Analysis: differences in diet between the extinct genera and their extant relatives, and any potential dietary fluctuations over time. Amongst more than 2,500 cercopithecid dental remains, 154 Theropithecus molars and 60 Papio molars were considered. Thirty-nine extant wild baboons and 20 wild geladas were also considered. The results show that diets of extinct monkeys from Member G already differed between genera as it is the case for their extant representatives. The shearing facets on the Theropithecus molars display significant variations in microwear textures, suggesting several dietary shifts over time. Two events point to higher intakes of herbaceous monocots (tougher than dicots foliages), at about 2.91 Ma (between members B and C) and at 2.32 Ma (between members E and F). These two events are separated by an inverse trend at about 2.53 Ma (between members C and D). Some of these variations, such as between members E and F are supported by the enamel carbon isotopic composition of herbivorous mammals and with paleovegetation evidence.

Highlights

Lake Turkana indicative of a time interval of 3.6 Ma to 1.05 Ma for the deposition of the formation
The inter-specific and temporal variations in the dental microwear textures of these terrestrial monkeys were compared with enamel stable carbon isotopic data and paleovegetation evidence
We expect primates foraging on a wide spectrum of food types to have more variable dental microwear textures than a monkey focusing for instance only on foliages

Summary

Introduction

Lake Turkana indicative of a time interval of 3.6 Ma to 1.05 Ma for the deposition of the formation. The inter-specific and temporal variations in the dental microwear textures of these terrestrial monkeys were compared with enamel stable carbon isotopic data and paleovegetation evidence. We expect primates foraging on a wide spectrum of food types (with different mechanical properties) to have more variable dental microwear textures than a monkey focusing for instance only on foliages. Such variations has been found on different modern ungulates with different feedings habits and on captive animals fed with different fodders[23,24,25,26,27]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion