Micromammals in carnivore scats: an actualistic taphonomic study of the rodents digested by the Achala culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus smithersi) in Córdoba, Argentina

COLL DAIANA GERALDINE; MONTALVO CLAUDIA ; FERNÁNDEZ FERNANDO; PIA MÓNICA; MONDINI MARIANA

Tarragona

Congreso; 3rd Meeting of the ICAZ Microvertebrate Working Group; 2020

The taphonomy of mammalian carnivores is relevant to the interpretation of the fossil record, asthese agents may accumulate, transport, modify and destroy faunal assemblages, including thoseassociated to anthropic remains. Carnivore activity can not only delete information by biasingfaunal accumulations, but also provide relevant palaeoecological information. The study ofcarnivore taphonomy has been developing in southern South America, particularly in Argentina,since the 1980s. One of the most conspicuous carnivores are foxes. Yet, information on thetaphonomic activity of these canids is still scarce, particularly in some areas, and especially asregards ingested bones. Here we present the first actualistic study of micromammals consumed bythe Achala fox (Lycalopex culpaeus smithersi), a subspecies of the culpeo fox that is endemic tothe Pampa de Achala (31º36?S, 64º51?W), in Córdoba province, central Argentina, andgeographically isolated from other populations of L. culpaeus.