Paleoecological Implications of Large-Sized Wild Boar Tracks Recorded During the Last Interglacial (Mis 5) at Huelva (Sw Spain)

Abstract

Well-preserved tracks of the wild boar Sus scrofa are described from the Matalascañas Trampled Surface (MTS) in the upper Pleistocene aeolian basal unit of the El Asperillo Cliff, Huelva (southwestern Spain). These are the first published tracks of suid pigs in the fossil record, here formally described as Suidichnus galani igen. and isp. nov. A revision of valid artiodactyl ichnogenera is provided for comparison. The large size of wild boar found in the Late Pleistocene of Spain contradicts the general trend towards smaller size known for the evolution of the species and the Bergmann's ecogeographical rule for the extant subspecies. In the present case, the remarkable large size that can be reached by these tracks is discussed as an ecomorphological adaptation of wild boars to either resource bonanza, and/or predation pressure during the Last Interglacial. The large S. scrofa scrofa identified in MTS corresponds to some of the earliest evidences known to this subspecies in Iberia.

First tracks of newborn straight-tusked elephants (Palaeoloxodon antiquus)

“…The hiatus was long, resulting in the development of a mature paleosol 1 m thick, under the influence of vegetation and a shallow phreatic level linked to the uprising sea-level during the last interglacial period 30 . The shallow phreatic level would frequently surpass the topographic level in the interdune area during the wet season, creating or recharging interdune lakes or ponds 14 , 16 . The top of PS1 shows evidence of erosional truncation 17 which means that the paleosol was subjected to erosional phases, possibly during the dry season, that might have prevented the preservation of tracks.…”

“…The MTS has been identified as occurring at the base of the informal lithostratigraphic unit AU1, according to the local stratigraphic section, which was deposited during the MIS 5 (dated by OSL as 106 ± 19 ky 15 ). Neto de Carvalho et al 15 , 16 pointed out that this trampled surface developed within the paleosol 17 , records an exceptional single event where tracks and trackways of different vertebrates ascribed to Artiodactyla ( Bos primigenius ?, Cervus elaphus and Sus scrofa ), Elephantidae ( Palaeoloxodon antiquus ), Canidae ( Canis lupus ) and waterbirds (Anserinae and Charadrii) were preserved. Most recently, Mayoral et al 18 described Neanderthal footprints, some of them clearly located in the MTS.…”

“…Most recently, Mayoral et al 18 described Neanderthal footprints, some of them clearly located in the MTS. The MTS ichnoassociation is characterized by the ichnogenera Cervipeda Vialov/ Bifipides Demathieu et al and Suidichnus galani Neto de Carvalho et al as artiodactyl traces, the ichnogenus Probiscipeda for P. antiquus traces, the ichnogenus Hominipes for Neanderthal footprints, the ichnogenus Canipeda Panin and Avram for wolf traces and, the bird traces could belong to the ichnogenus Presbyorniformipes Yang et al, in addition to other tetradactyl ichnogenera still not studied in detail 14 , 16 . The MTS is interpreted, from the sedimentological point of view, as a hydromorphic paleosol with abundant rhizoliths developed during the last interglacial period 17 , in a temporarily exposed interdunal area, similar to current examples in the Doñana National Park.…”

“…The MTS is interpreted, from the sedimentological point of view, as a hydromorphic paleosol with abundant rhizoliths developed during the last interglacial period 17 , in a temporarily exposed interdunal area, similar to current examples in the Doñana National Park. Ferriargillan coating and the first eolian rippled sands of AU1 may have been responsible for the long-term preservation of the MTS traces from erosion 16 . However, ever present intertidal erosion upon poorly cemented fine- and clayey sandstones clearly affects the tracks and rhizoliths when exposed from the beach sand cover, blurring morphological features after few tides and deepening the trace fossils.…”

Aurochs roamed along the SW coast of Andalusia (Spain) during Late Pleistocene

“…However, if the eolianites are confirmed to be MIS 3 in age, the more rounded cervid didactyl tracks from Gorliz could also be compared to those of the reindeer Rangifer tarandus , a species commonly found from the bone record in the northern Spain during the Pleniglacial 25 – 27 . Recently, the Matalascañas Trampled Surface (MTS) in the province of Huelva (SW Spain), dated from the early Late Pleistocene (MIS 5), was described showing abundant artiodactyl tracks which were attributed to wild boar, red deer and possibly aurochs 15 , 16 .…”