已灭绝的物种中的饮食:在米欧纪犀牛骨中的化石草:已灭绝物种中的饮食
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 19, 1979
概括
在古老的犀牛 (Teleoceras major) 中发现的化石草片表明它是两动物,并食用状草. 这一发现澄清了这个灭绝的哺乳动物的古生物学.
科学领域:
- 古生物学的古生物学
- 古植物学是古植物学.
- 古生物学的古生物学
背景情况:
- 现在已灭绝的犀牛Teleoceras major的体型与河马相似,牙高高的.
- 大型Teleoceras的古生物学作用和饮食一直是神秘的.
- 化植物遗骸为已灭绝的动物群的饮食提供了潜在的见解.
研究的目的:
- 为了调查Teleoceras主要的饮食.
- 使用化石植物证据澄清Teleoceras主要的古生物学作用.
主要方法:
- 在Teleoceras大骨架的口腔和肋骨内发现的化石草部分 (anthoecia) 的分析.
- 草物种的识别:贝里奥克洛亚 (Berriochloa communis),贝里奥克洛亚 (Berriochloa primaeva) 和贝里奥克洛亚 (Berriohldoa),参见下文. 新的. 诺瓦.
- 在内布拉斯加州的晚克拉伦登纪火山灰沉积物中对化石发现进行了上下文分析.
主要成果:
- 三种草的化被确定为Teleoceras主要化石中的食物残留物.
- 植物化石位于口腔和胸中,表明摄入.
- 这些发现表明,饮食中含有大量的状草.
结论:
- 大型Teleoceras很可能是两动物.
- 状草形成了Teleoceras主要饮食的重要组成部分.
- 这种饮食证据有助于解决Teleoceras major.的古生物学.
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