Who killed Micromeryx flourensianus ? A case study of taphonomy and predation on ruminants in the middle Miocene of France

Abstract

The fossil remains of the moschid Micromeryx flourensianus from the Sansan type locality (middle Miocene, France) show indications of fluvial transport and clear signs of carnivore activity. Most remarkable are bite marks with a distinctive pattern on the heels of the moschids (marks predominantly on the medial side of the astragalus and on the lateral side of the calcaneus). These allow the reconstruction of a specific hunting behaviour: most likely, the predator was attacking the moschid prey by deliberate bites on the heel during the chase, probably to immobilize it. This kind of behaviour is recorded for mustelids hunting moschids in modern ecosystems. Considering this and evaluating the size and pattern of the bite marks, it was possible to name the mustelids Martes sansaniensis, Taxodon sansaniensis and Proputorius sansaniensis as the most likely candidates for the hunt on Micromeryx. This offers an insight into a predator–prey relationship in the fossil‐rich locality Sansan and reveals that a hunting behaviour present in modern mustelids might actually represent a trait at least 14 million years old.