PALEVO-1071; No. of Pages 29 2 A. Sanchis et al. / C. R. Palevol xxx (2017) xxx-xxx Middle Palaeo... more PALEVO-1071; No. of Pages 29 2 A. Sanchis et al. / C. R. Palevol xxx (2017) xxx-xxx Middle Palaeolithic Hyenas Leopards the main occupants of the cave. The information from the animals processed by humans together with other archaeological evidence and the intervention of various carnivores in these basal levels enables us to characterise a palimpsest of occupations that would have been short and sporadic in the case of humans.
This study analyses the fossil record of leopards in the Iberian Peninsula. According to the syst... more This study analyses the fossil record of leopards in the Iberian Peninsula. According to the systematic and morphometric features of new remains, identified mainly in Late Pleistocene palaeontological and archaeological sites of the Mediterranean region, they can be attributed to Panthera pardus Linnaeus 1758. The findings include the most complete leopard skeleton from the Iberian Peninsula and one of the most complete in Europe, found in a chasm (Avenc de Joan Guit on) south of Valencia. The new citations and published data are used to establish the leopard's distribution in the Iberian Peninsula, showing its maximum development during the Late Pleistocene. Some references suggest that the species survived for longer here (Lateglacial-Early Holocene) than in other parts of Europe. Finally, the contexts of appearance and origen of leopard remains are described and the processes of interaction with prehistoric human groups are assessed.
Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accu... more Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accumulates inside them. This helps to prevent its kill from being stolen by other predators like hyenas. Although the leopard is an accumulator of bones in caves, few studies have been conducted on existing lairs. There are, however, examples of fossil vertebrate sites whose main collecting agent is the leopard. During the Late Pleistocene, the leopard was a common carnivore in European faunal associations. Here we present a new locality of Quaternary mammals with a scarce human presence, the cave of Los Rincones (province of Zaragoza, Spain); we show the leopard to be the main accumulator of the bones in the cave, while there are no interactions between humans and leopards. For this purpose, a taphonomic analysis is performed on different bone-layers of the cave.
ABSTRACT Geometric morphometric methods applied to theropod tracks from the Huérteles Formation (... more ABSTRACT Geometric morphometric methods applied to theropod tracks from the Huérteles Formation (Berriasian, Spain) are here shown to be invaluable for drawing comparisons between theropod tracks with different preservation modes (true tracks, shallow undertracks and natural casts) or differing in the preservation of anatomical features (e.g. digital pads). Principal components analysis and thin-plate spline methods can quantitatively distinguish between the broad groups of tracks in a sample and establish the main differences between them. These methods offer a promising approach for estimating ichnodiversity, achieved by evaluating just the morphology of the tracks independent of other factors such as size. The theropod tracks of the Huérteles Formation can be classified into two broad groups: minute-to-medium-sized gracile theropod tracks (Kalohipus bretunensis) and medium-to-large-sized robust theropod tracks (Iberosauripus). The presence of a third group of more gracile medium-to-large-sized theropod tracks (Megalosauripus) cannot be proven with certainty on the basis of the current data. These results indicate that the theropod ichnodiversity of the Huérteles Formation is probably lower than that estimated by means of conventional methods alone (e.g. qualitative description of the tracks) and that many of the described theropod morphotypes may represent extramorphological or ontogenetic variations of other morphotypes.
A new Pleistocene cave bear site in the high mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees: La Brecha del Rin... more A new Pleistocene cave bear site in the high mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees: La Brecha del Rincón (Huesca, Spain) Un nouveau gisement Pléistocène d'ours des cavernes de haute montagne dans les Pyrénées espagnoles : La Brecha del Rincón (Huesca, Espagne) a b s t r a c t
Bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia) are a valuable and independent source of palaeoenvironmental informat... more Bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia) are a valuable and independent source of palaeoenvironmental information in Quaternary sites because bat assemblages are not necessarily produced by the same processes as those of other small mammals. Here, we report a small collection of bats (MNI 15) from a cave infill of the Aguilón P7 (AGP-7) site (Zaragoza, Spain) dated Late Pleistocene (MIS 3). This is one of the rare localities south of the Ebro River (right bank) with Neanderthal tracks; therefore, the palaeoenvironmental data provided here may help us to understand Neanderthal history. Nine bat taxa were identified, viz. Rhinolophus ferumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis gr. myotis/blythii, M. cf. bechsteinii, M. emarginatus, M. daubentonii, Plecotus gr. auritus/austriacus, Hipsugo savii vel. Pipistrellus kuhlii/nathusii, and Miniopterus schreibersii. The presence of a high number of yearlings of the former four species suggests the presence of breeding colonies. The surprisingly high diversity of the sample indicates a variegated vegetation cover and relatively high humidity for the MIS 3 stage in the region.
RESUMEN.-Durante el desarrollo del proyecto de investigación "Recuperación de restos paleontológi... more RESUMEN.-Durante el desarrollo del proyecto de investigación "Recuperación de restos paleontológicos, catalogación y datación de los yacimientos del Pleistoceno-Holoceno de las cavidades del Pirineo oscense", se han prospectado diversas cavidades del Pirineo oscense en busca de nuevos yacimientos paleontológicos. Estas cavidades se hallaban situadas en la sierra de Secús, Barranco Jardín, los Lecherines, la sierra de Tendeñera y el Serrato Gallisué. En dichas zonas se ha encontrado o se ha confirmado la presencia de ocho nuevos yacimientos paleontológicos. Además, se ha continuado la excavación de yacimientos en los que se había trabajado previamente, como la cueva de la Brecha del Rincón y la de los Osos de Lecherines. Mediante el Lucas Mallada, 17: 247 a 289
The new Quaternary site of Los Rincones in the region of Moncayo (Zaragoza, north-east Spain) has... more The new Quaternary site of Los Rincones in the region of Moncayo (Zaragoza, north-east Spain) has provided a well-preserved mandible of Panthera pardus. This mandible shows morphological similarities with that of snow leopard, Panthera uncia. The resemblance between specimens described as P. pardus in the European Pleistocene and P. uncia raises the question of whether the morphological variability of P. uncia includes the specimens from the European Pleistocene or whether it is rather a case of convergence in which the European leopard acquired particular characters of the snow leopard, such as the flattened snout, the short dental diastema and the elongation of the carnassial, through an adaptation process to a mountain environment. In addition, the Moncayo mandible led to the revision of the P. pardus material from the Iberian Peninsula. Though this region is one of the most densively inhabited by P. pardus in Europe, it has been poorly studied in the past. This shows that the Cantabrian region in the north of the Iberian Peninsula might have been the last refuge for this species prior to its complete disappearance from Europe.
This study analyses the fossil record of leopards in the Iberian Peninsula. According to the syst... more This study analyses the fossil record of leopards in the Iberian Peninsula. According to the systematic and morphometric features of new remains, identified mainly in Late Pleistocene palaeontological and archaeological sites of the Mediterranean region, they can be attributed to Panthera pardus Linnaeus 1758. The findings include the most complete leopard skeleton from the Iberian Peninsula and one of the most complete in Europe, found in a chasm (Avenc de Joan Guit on) south of Valencia. The new citations and published data are used to establish the leopard's distribution in the Iberian Peninsula, showing its maximum development during the Late Pleistocene. Some references suggest that the species survived for longer here (Lateglacial-Early Holocene) than in other parts of Europe. Finally, the contexts of appearance and origen of leopard remains are described and the processes of interaction with prehistoric human groups are assessed.
Bone accumulations created by carnivores during the Pleistocene have been largely associated with... more Bone accumulations created by carnivores during the Pleistocene have been largely associated with the action of cave hyenas (Crocuta spelaea Golfüss, 1823), identified all over Europe. Yet in recent years it has been shown that leopards (Panthera pardus Linnaeus, 1758) played a role in the creation of sites in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study we present the taphonomic study of the bone accumulation of the Pre-Solutrean level at the Racó del Duc Cave (south of the province of Valencia), where the dominant species (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838) has been accumulated by leopards. Together with new data and other references taken from the bibliography, we have summarised the main taphonomic characteristics of the sites accumulated by leopards. The predatorprey relationship has also been analysed and it has shown that during the Pleistocene, leopards in the Iberian Peninsula were specialised in catching goats, showing similar behaviour to that of snow leopards. Said specialisation may have been due to the occupation of caves in steep areas where rupicolous fauna predominated.
A new Pleistocene paleontological site, Los Aprendices, located in the northwestern part of the I... more A new Pleistocene paleontological site, Los Aprendices, located in the northwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula in the area of the Moncayo (Zaragoza) is presented. The layer with fossil remains has been dated by amino acid racemization to 143.8 ± 38.9 ka (earliest Late Pleistocene or latest Middle Pleistocene). Five mammal species have been identified in the assemblage: Crocuta spelaea (Goldfuss, 1823) Capra pyrenaica (Schinz, 1838), Lagomorpha indet, Arvicolidae indet and Galemys pyrenaicus (Geoffroy, 1811). The remains of C. spelaea represent a mostly complete skeleton in anatomical semi-connection. The hyena specimen represents the most complete skeleton ever recovered in Iberia and one of the most complete remains in Europe. It has been compared anatomically and biometrically with both European cave hyenas and extant spotted hyenas. In addition, a taphonomic study has been carried out in order to understand the origen and preservation of these exceptional remains. The results suggest rapid burial with few scavenging modifications putatively produced by a medium size carnivore. A review of the Pleistocene Iberian record of Crocuta spp. has been carried out, enabling us to establish one of the earliest records of C. spelaea in the recently discovered Los Aprendices cave, and also showing that the most extensive geographical distribution of this species occurred during the Late Pleistocene (MIS4-2).
Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accu... more Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accumulates inside them. This helps to prevent its kill from being stolen by other predators like hyenas. Although the leopard is an accumulator of bones in caves, few studies have been conducted on existing lairs. There are, however, examples of fossil vertebrate sites whose main collecting agent is the leopard. During the Late Pleistocene, the leopard was a common carnivore in European faunal associations. Here we present a new locality of Quaternary mammals with a scarce human presence, the cave of Los Rincones (province of Zaragoza, Spain); we show the leopard to be the main accumulator of the bones in the cave, while there are no interactions between humans and leopards. For this purpose, a taphonomic analysis is performed on different bone-layers of the cave.
Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accu... more Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accumulates inside them. This helps to prevent its kill from being stolen by other predators like hyenas. Although the leopard is an accumulator of bones in caves, few studies have been conducted on existing lairs. There are, however, examples of fossil vertebrate sites whose main collecting agent is the leopard. During the Late Pleistocene, the leopard was a common carnivore in European faunal associations. Here we present a new locality of Quaternary mammals with a scarce human presence, the cave of Los Rincones (province of Zaragoza, Spain); we show the leopard to be the main accumulator of the bones in the cave, while there are no interactions between humans and leopards. For this purpose, a taphonomic analysis is performed on different bone-layers of the cave.
Geometric morphometric methods applied to theropod tracks from the Hu erteles Formation (Berriasi... more Geometric morphometric methods applied to theropod tracks from the Hu erteles Formation (Berriasian, Spain) are here shown to be invaluable for drawing comparisons between theropod tracks with different preservation modes (true tracks, shallow undertracks and natural casts) or differing in the preservation of anatomical features (e.g. digital pads). Principal components analysis and thin-plate spline methods can quantitatively distinguish between the broad groups of tracks in a sample and establish the main differences between them. These methods offer a promising approach for estimating ichnodiversity, achieved by evaluating just the morphology of the tracks independent of other factors such as size. The theropod tracks of the Hu erteles Formation can be classified into two broad groups: minute-to-medium-sized gracile theropod tracks (Kalohipus bretun-ensis) and medium-to-large-sized robust theropod tracks (Iberosauripus). The presence of a third group of more grac-ile medium-to-large-sized theropod tracks (Megalosauripus) cannot be proven with certainty on the basis of the current data. These results indicate that the theropod ichnodiversity of the Hu erteles Formation is probably lower than that estimated by means of conventional methods alone (e.g. qualitative description of the tracks) and that many of the described theropod morphotypes may represent extramor-phological or ontogenetic variations of other morphotypes.
PALEVO-1071; No. of Pages 29 2 A. Sanchis et al. / C. R. Palevol xxx (2017) xxx-xxx Middle Palaeo... more PALEVO-1071; No. of Pages 29 2 A. Sanchis et al. / C. R. Palevol xxx (2017) xxx-xxx Middle Palaeolithic Hyenas Leopards the main occupants of the cave. The information from the animals processed by humans together with other archaeological evidence and the intervention of various carnivores in these basal levels enables us to characterise a palimpsest of occupations that would have been short and sporadic in the case of humans.
This study analyses the fossil record of leopards in the Iberian Peninsula. According to the syst... more This study analyses the fossil record of leopards in the Iberian Peninsula. According to the systematic and morphometric features of new remains, identified mainly in Late Pleistocene palaeontological and archaeological sites of the Mediterranean region, they can be attributed to Panthera pardus Linnaeus 1758. The findings include the most complete leopard skeleton from the Iberian Peninsula and one of the most complete in Europe, found in a chasm (Avenc de Joan Guit on) south of Valencia. The new citations and published data are used to establish the leopard's distribution in the Iberian Peninsula, showing its maximum development during the Late Pleistocene. Some references suggest that the species survived for longer here (Lateglacial-Early Holocene) than in other parts of Europe. Finally, the contexts of appearance and origen of leopard remains are described and the processes of interaction with prehistoric human groups are assessed.
Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accu... more Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accumulates inside them. This helps to prevent its kill from being stolen by other predators like hyenas. Although the leopard is an accumulator of bones in caves, few studies have been conducted on existing lairs. There are, however, examples of fossil vertebrate sites whose main collecting agent is the leopard. During the Late Pleistocene, the leopard was a common carnivore in European faunal associations. Here we present a new locality of Quaternary mammals with a scarce human presence, the cave of Los Rincones (province of Zaragoza, Spain); we show the leopard to be the main accumulator of the bones in the cave, while there are no interactions between humans and leopards. For this purpose, a taphonomic analysis is performed on different bone-layers of the cave.
ABSTRACT Geometric morphometric methods applied to theropod tracks from the Huérteles Formation (... more ABSTRACT Geometric morphometric methods applied to theropod tracks from the Huérteles Formation (Berriasian, Spain) are here shown to be invaluable for drawing comparisons between theropod tracks with different preservation modes (true tracks, shallow undertracks and natural casts) or differing in the preservation of anatomical features (e.g. digital pads). Principal components analysis and thin-plate spline methods can quantitatively distinguish between the broad groups of tracks in a sample and establish the main differences between them. These methods offer a promising approach for estimating ichnodiversity, achieved by evaluating just the morphology of the tracks independent of other factors such as size. The theropod tracks of the Huérteles Formation can be classified into two broad groups: minute-to-medium-sized gracile theropod tracks (Kalohipus bretunensis) and medium-to-large-sized robust theropod tracks (Iberosauripus). The presence of a third group of more gracile medium-to-large-sized theropod tracks (Megalosauripus) cannot be proven with certainty on the basis of the current data. These results indicate that the theropod ichnodiversity of the Huérteles Formation is probably lower than that estimated by means of conventional methods alone (e.g. qualitative description of the tracks) and that many of the described theropod morphotypes may represent extramorphological or ontogenetic variations of other morphotypes.
A new Pleistocene cave bear site in the high mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees: La Brecha del Rin... more A new Pleistocene cave bear site in the high mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees: La Brecha del Rincón (Huesca, Spain) Un nouveau gisement Pléistocène d'ours des cavernes de haute montagne dans les Pyrénées espagnoles : La Brecha del Rincón (Huesca, Espagne) a b s t r a c t
Bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia) are a valuable and independent source of palaeoenvironmental informat... more Bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia) are a valuable and independent source of palaeoenvironmental information in Quaternary sites because bat assemblages are not necessarily produced by the same processes as those of other small mammals. Here, we report a small collection of bats (MNI 15) from a cave infill of the Aguilón P7 (AGP-7) site (Zaragoza, Spain) dated Late Pleistocene (MIS 3). This is one of the rare localities south of the Ebro River (right bank) with Neanderthal tracks; therefore, the palaeoenvironmental data provided here may help us to understand Neanderthal history. Nine bat taxa were identified, viz. Rhinolophus ferumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis gr. myotis/blythii, M. cf. bechsteinii, M. emarginatus, M. daubentonii, Plecotus gr. auritus/austriacus, Hipsugo savii vel. Pipistrellus kuhlii/nathusii, and Miniopterus schreibersii. The presence of a high number of yearlings of the former four species suggests the presence of breeding colonies. The surprisingly high diversity of the sample indicates a variegated vegetation cover and relatively high humidity for the MIS 3 stage in the region.
RESUMEN.-Durante el desarrollo del proyecto de investigación "Recuperación de restos paleontológi... more RESUMEN.-Durante el desarrollo del proyecto de investigación "Recuperación de restos paleontológicos, catalogación y datación de los yacimientos del Pleistoceno-Holoceno de las cavidades del Pirineo oscense", se han prospectado diversas cavidades del Pirineo oscense en busca de nuevos yacimientos paleontológicos. Estas cavidades se hallaban situadas en la sierra de Secús, Barranco Jardín, los Lecherines, la sierra de Tendeñera y el Serrato Gallisué. En dichas zonas se ha encontrado o se ha confirmado la presencia de ocho nuevos yacimientos paleontológicos. Además, se ha continuado la excavación de yacimientos en los que se había trabajado previamente, como la cueva de la Brecha del Rincón y la de los Osos de Lecherines. Mediante el Lucas Mallada, 17: 247 a 289
The new Quaternary site of Los Rincones in the region of Moncayo (Zaragoza, north-east Spain) has... more The new Quaternary site of Los Rincones in the region of Moncayo (Zaragoza, north-east Spain) has provided a well-preserved mandible of Panthera pardus. This mandible shows morphological similarities with that of snow leopard, Panthera uncia. The resemblance between specimens described as P. pardus in the European Pleistocene and P. uncia raises the question of whether the morphological variability of P. uncia includes the specimens from the European Pleistocene or whether it is rather a case of convergence in which the European leopard acquired particular characters of the snow leopard, such as the flattened snout, the short dental diastema and the elongation of the carnassial, through an adaptation process to a mountain environment. In addition, the Moncayo mandible led to the revision of the P. pardus material from the Iberian Peninsula. Though this region is one of the most densively inhabited by P. pardus in Europe, it has been poorly studied in the past. This shows that the Cantabrian region in the north of the Iberian Peninsula might have been the last refuge for this species prior to its complete disappearance from Europe.
This study analyses the fossil record of leopards in the Iberian Peninsula. According to the syst... more This study analyses the fossil record of leopards in the Iberian Peninsula. According to the systematic and morphometric features of new remains, identified mainly in Late Pleistocene palaeontological and archaeological sites of the Mediterranean region, they can be attributed to Panthera pardus Linnaeus 1758. The findings include the most complete leopard skeleton from the Iberian Peninsula and one of the most complete in Europe, found in a chasm (Avenc de Joan Guit on) south of Valencia. The new citations and published data are used to establish the leopard's distribution in the Iberian Peninsula, showing its maximum development during the Late Pleistocene. Some references suggest that the species survived for longer here (Lateglacial-Early Holocene) than in other parts of Europe. Finally, the contexts of appearance and origen of leopard remains are described and the processes of interaction with prehistoric human groups are assessed.
Bone accumulations created by carnivores during the Pleistocene have been largely associated with... more Bone accumulations created by carnivores during the Pleistocene have been largely associated with the action of cave hyenas (Crocuta spelaea Golfüss, 1823), identified all over Europe. Yet in recent years it has been shown that leopards (Panthera pardus Linnaeus, 1758) played a role in the creation of sites in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study we present the taphonomic study of the bone accumulation of the Pre-Solutrean level at the Racó del Duc Cave (south of the province of Valencia), where the dominant species (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838) has been accumulated by leopards. Together with new data and other references taken from the bibliography, we have summarised the main taphonomic characteristics of the sites accumulated by leopards. The predatorprey relationship has also been analysed and it has shown that during the Pleistocene, leopards in the Iberian Peninsula were specialised in catching goats, showing similar behaviour to that of snow leopards. Said specialisation may have been due to the occupation of caves in steep areas where rupicolous fauna predominated.
A new Pleistocene paleontological site, Los Aprendices, located in the northwestern part of the I... more A new Pleistocene paleontological site, Los Aprendices, located in the northwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula in the area of the Moncayo (Zaragoza) is presented. The layer with fossil remains has been dated by amino acid racemization to 143.8 ± 38.9 ka (earliest Late Pleistocene or latest Middle Pleistocene). Five mammal species have been identified in the assemblage: Crocuta spelaea (Goldfuss, 1823) Capra pyrenaica (Schinz, 1838), Lagomorpha indet, Arvicolidae indet and Galemys pyrenaicus (Geoffroy, 1811). The remains of C. spelaea represent a mostly complete skeleton in anatomical semi-connection. The hyena specimen represents the most complete skeleton ever recovered in Iberia and one of the most complete remains in Europe. It has been compared anatomically and biometrically with both European cave hyenas and extant spotted hyenas. In addition, a taphonomic study has been carried out in order to understand the origen and preservation of these exceptional remains. The results suggest rapid burial with few scavenging modifications putatively produced by a medium size carnivore. A review of the Pleistocene Iberian record of Crocuta spp. has been carried out, enabling us to establish one of the earliest records of C. spelaea in the recently discovered Los Aprendices cave, and also showing that the most extensive geographical distribution of this species occurred during the Late Pleistocene (MIS4-2).
Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accu... more Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accumulates inside them. This helps to prevent its kill from being stolen by other predators like hyenas. Although the leopard is an accumulator of bones in caves, few studies have been conducted on existing lairs. There are, however, examples of fossil vertebrate sites whose main collecting agent is the leopard. During the Late Pleistocene, the leopard was a common carnivore in European faunal associations. Here we present a new locality of Quaternary mammals with a scarce human presence, the cave of Los Rincones (province of Zaragoza, Spain); we show the leopard to be the main accumulator of the bones in the cave, while there are no interactions between humans and leopards. For this purpose, a taphonomic analysis is performed on different bone-layers of the cave.
Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accu... more Eating habits of Panthera pardus are well known. When there are caves in its territory, prey accumulates inside them. This helps to prevent its kill from being stolen by other predators like hyenas. Although the leopard is an accumulator of bones in caves, few studies have been conducted on existing lairs. There are, however, examples of fossil vertebrate sites whose main collecting agent is the leopard. During the Late Pleistocene, the leopard was a common carnivore in European faunal associations. Here we present a new locality of Quaternary mammals with a scarce human presence, the cave of Los Rincones (province of Zaragoza, Spain); we show the leopard to be the main accumulator of the bones in the cave, while there are no interactions between humans and leopards. For this purpose, a taphonomic analysis is performed on different bone-layers of the cave.
Geometric morphometric methods applied to theropod tracks from the Hu erteles Formation (Berriasi... more Geometric morphometric methods applied to theropod tracks from the Hu erteles Formation (Berriasian, Spain) are here shown to be invaluable for drawing comparisons between theropod tracks with different preservation modes (true tracks, shallow undertracks and natural casts) or differing in the preservation of anatomical features (e.g. digital pads). Principal components analysis and thin-plate spline methods can quantitatively distinguish between the broad groups of tracks in a sample and establish the main differences between them. These methods offer a promising approach for estimating ichnodiversity, achieved by evaluating just the morphology of the tracks independent of other factors such as size. The theropod tracks of the Hu erteles Formation can be classified into two broad groups: minute-to-medium-sized gracile theropod tracks (Kalohipus bretun-ensis) and medium-to-large-sized robust theropod tracks (Iberosauripus). The presence of a third group of more grac-ile medium-to-large-sized theropod tracks (Megalosauripus) cannot be proven with certainty on the basis of the current data. These results indicate that the theropod ichnodiversity of the Hu erteles Formation is probably lower than that estimated by means of conventional methods alone (e.g. qualitative description of the tracks) and that many of the described theropod morphotypes may represent extramor-phological or ontogenetic variations of other morphotypes.
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helps to prevent its kill from being stolen by other predators like hyenas. Although the leopard is an accumulator of bones
in caves, few studies have been conducted on existing lairs. There are, however, examples of fossil vertebrate sites whose
main collecting agent is the leopard. During the Late Pleistocene, the leopard was a common carnivore in European faunal
associations. Here we present a new locality of Quaternary mammals with a scarce human presence, the cave of Los
Rincones (province of Zaragoza, Spain); we show the leopard to be the main accumulator of the bones in the cave, while
there are no interactions between humans and leopards. For this purpose, a taphonomic analysis is performed on different
bone-layers of the cave.
helps to prevent its kill from being stolen by other predators like hyenas. Although the leopard is an accumulator of bones
in caves, few studies have been conducted on existing lairs. There are, however, examples of fossil vertebrate sites whose
main collecting agent is the leopard. During the Late Pleistocene, the leopard was a common carnivore in European faunal
associations. Here we present a new locality of Quaternary mammals with a scarce human presence, the cave of Los
Rincones (province of Zaragoza, Spain); we show the leopard to be the main accumulator of the bones in the cave, while
there are no interactions between humans and leopards. For this purpose, a taphonomic analysis is performed on different
bone-layers of the cave.