Buccal dental-microwear and feeding ecology of Early Pleistocene Theropithecus oswaldi from Cueva Victoria (Spain)

Abstract

Despite the scarcity of fossil specimens of Theropithecus oswaldi in Eurasia, its presence out of Africa attests to the great dispersal of this Papionini genus during the Early Pleistocene. In the present study, we analyze the buccal dental microwear of T. oswaldi (T. o. leakeyi) fossil specimens from Cueva Victoria (Southeastern Spain). This analysis is the first characterization of the feeding ecology of T. oswaldi in Europe. The buccal microwear pattern of the molar and premolar teeth of T. oswaldi from Cueva Victoria shows great similarities to that observed for the extant frugivorous forest-dwelling Mandrillus sphinx and mangabeys (Cercocebus sp.)dboth species adapted to durophagous dietary habitsdwhile significantly differed from that observed for the gramnivorous Theropithecus gelada. These results suggest that T. oswaldi from Cueva Victoria could have exploited both hard-shelled fruits or seeds and succulent fruits from open and forested Mediterranean ecosystems.

Effectiveness of buccal dental‐microwear texture in African Cercopithecoidea dietary discrimination

“…The occlusal microtexture pattern of M. sphinx has been characterized by a low complexity, however, which might be affected by abrasive particles that could smooth occlusal relief through hard rubbing (Percher et al, 2018). This “rubbing effect” contrasts with the microtexture pattern with high relief found in the present study, and resembles the high number of buccal‐enamel scratches previously observed (Martínez et al, 2016, 2020) suggesting specific mechanisms of microwear formation on occlusal and buccal surfaces.…”

“…The M 2 was selected of each specimen because in primates the adult diet is attained when the second molar is erupted and in full occlusion (Romero et al, 2022). The M 2 is the most commonly used tooth for both occlusal (Merceron et al, 2021; Scott et al, 2012) and buccal (Galbany et al, 2009; Martínez et al, 2020; Ungar & Teaford, 1996) dental microwear studies among nonhuman primates. Furthermore, a single molar type is chosen for standardization and to prevent the effect of inter‐tooth wear‐related signatures (Gordon, 1982).…”

“…For instance, primates primarily adapted to folivorous diets exhibit lower densities of shorter buccal scratches than frugivorous and omnivorous species. Others have related high densities of scratches on buccal surfaces to the consumption of hard and gritty food items during mastication (Galbany et al, 2009; Martínez et al, 2020). Terrestrial feeding strategies and ecological constraints among primates also affect interspecific variability in buccal microwear signals (Galbany & Pérez‐Pérez, 2004).…”

“…These indentations take the form of scratches with different frequencies, lengths, and orientations that reflect the abrasiveness of the food consumed (Lalueza et al, 1996; Romero et al, 2012). Buccal‐microwear analysis based on two‐dimensional (2D) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques has been used to determine the potential relationships between specific feeding behaviors and microwear patterns (Galbany et al, 2009; Martínez et al, 2020). These patterns have been used to infer aspects of diet for extinct species (Estebaranz et al, 2009; Estebaranz et al, 2012; Martínez et al, 2016, 2020; Pérez‐Pérez et al, 2003, 2017).…”

Further away with dental microwear analysis: Food resource partitioning among Plio-Pleistocene monkeys from the Shungura Formation, Ethiopia

“…Former studies based on dental microwear analysis and enamel carbon stable isotope composition have drawn similar conclusions (Lee-Thorp et al, 1989;Teaford, 1993;El-Zaatari et al, 2005;Cerling et al, 2013;Williams, 2014;Shapiro et al, 2016;Souron, 2018). A recent study, however, indicates that T. oswaldi from the Pleistocene in Spain may have included hard food items in its diet (Martínez et al, 2020). Besides, its locomotor appendicular skeleton shows that this species may have had behavioural habits similar to extant Papio, being able to exploit arboreal substrates (Elton, 2002).…”