A new porcupine finding from Kemiklitepe
Author Information
Author(s): K. Halaçlar, Paul Rummy, Serdar Mayda, Tao Deng
Primary Institution: Ege University Natural History Museum
Conclusion
The study identifies a new specimen of Hystrix primigenia and reveals its broader dispersal range in Eurasia compared to Hystrix depereti, which was absent in Late Miocene Türkiye.
Supporting Evidence
- The study provides insights into the paleobiogeography of porcupines in Eurasia.
- It refines the categorization of Late Miocene Hystrix discoveries in Türkiye to two species: H. primigenia and H. kayae.
- The findings suggest that H. depereti was absent in Late Miocene Türkiye.
Takeaway
Scientists found a new type of porcupine fossil in Turkey, which helps us understand how these animals lived and spread across different places a long time ago.
Methodology
The study involved the examination of a mandible fragment and a right cheek tooth series from the Kemiklitepe fossil locality, along with a comprehensive review of all H. primigenia findings across Eurasia.
Limitations
The study is limited by the availability of fossil records and the challenges in systematic investigations due to the fragmentary nature of the findings.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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