2022/07/25 by ANA P. MORENO RODRÍGUEZ, Nicolás R. Chimento, Federico L. Agnolín +2 · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Social Sciences · Environmental Science · #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation #Carnivore #Mammal #Pleistocene #Megafauna #Extant taxon #Early Pleistocene #Acheulean #Paleontology #Biology #Geology #Zoology #Predation #Evolutionary biology
paper · doi:10.2110/palo.2021.056
openalex publication_date 2022/07/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
ABSTRACT Pleistocene large carnivores from the Pampean Region have been studied almost always based on bone remains. Here we report the first coprolite of a large carnivore from the Late Pleistocene of the Pampean Region, Argentina. The coprolite was found associated with megafauna bone remains and it shows the typical shape and size of a carnivorous mammal, with a length of 240 mm and a maximum diameter of 39.59 mm. The coprolite contains two bones of the autopodium of an artiodactyl, and numerous dermal ossicles of giant terrestrial sloths. The coprolite's composition, size, and shape allow us to discard ursids, canids, and small felids. Ursid and canid feces contain abundant plant remains, which are absent in the coprolite described here. Feces of extant felids are smaller than the coprolite here as they do not exceed 130 mm in length and 30 mm in diameter. Based on size, shape, and bone inclusions, the discovered coprolite may be attributed to the Machairodontinae saber-toothed felid Smilodon. If correctly identified, this coprolite sheds light on predatory habits of Smilodon.