First record of well-preserved canid coprolites from Eurasia: New insights into the unique ecological niche of Yuanmou Basin

Abstract

This study reconstructs the Early Pleistocene paleoenvironment of the Yuanmou Basin through coproecology of the third member of the Yuanmou Formation. We examined 38 exceptionally well-preserved coprolites from a new fossil locality, and attributed the putative defecating agent to the hypercarnivorous diet canid, Sinocuon yuanmouensis through geochemical and quantitative analyses. A new ichnogenus and ichnospecies, Cuocopros yuanmouensis igen. et. isp. nov., was established based on distinctive characteristics. Multi-disciplinary analysis, including sediment palynology and lithostratigraphy, helped primarily reconstruct a significant climatic event during the early Pleistocene, coinciding with the emergence of Yuanmou Man during the fourth member of the Yuanmou Formation's deposition. The findings provide insights into coexistence between canids, hyaenas, hominoids, and other fauna, revealing a rich paleoecosystem and food chain in the region's history. This study contributes to understanding the complex ecological dynamics during this period in the Yuanmou Basin.