DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.10.023
论文题名: Taphonomy of mammalian fossil bones from the debris-flow deposits of Somosaguas-North (Middle Miocene, Madrid Basin, Spain)
作者: Domingo M.S. ; Martín-Perea D. ; Domingo L. ; Cantero E. ; Cantalapiedra J.L. ; García Yelo B.A. ; Gómez Cano A.R. ; Alcalde G.M. ; Fesharaki O. ; Hernández Fernández M.
刊名: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
ISSN: 0031-0182
出版年: 2017
卷: 465 起始页码: 103
结束页码: 121
语种: 英语
英文关键词: Aragonian
; Debris flow
; Mammals
; Miocene
; Southern Europe
; Taphonomy
英文摘要: Debris-flow hosted assemblages dominated by mammalian remains are very scarce in the fossil record and few examples are reported. Herein we present a detailed taphonomic study of Somosaguas-North (Madrid Basin, Spain), a Middle Miocene mammalian-dominated site embedded in debris-flow deposits, in order to increase our knowledge of the mode of formation of fossiliferous assemblages in this depositional context. The assemblage includes 6592 large-mammal remains belonging to at least 10 different species. Fossils are found in matrix-supported, poorly-sorted coarse arkosic sandstones and fine conglomerates, which are interpreted as the result of successive debris-flow deposits. Breakage constitutes a pervasive taphonomic alteration in the bone assemblage; however, together with unidentifiable bone fragments, we also found complete to almost complete skeletal elements. Bone remains are isolated, a fact that is indicative of a time of exposure of the carcasses long enough to enable decay and complete disarticulation. There are no associations of elements belonging to the same individual, which suggests that, prior to or during debris-flow transport, bones were profusely dispersed. Based on the taphonomic evidence, we suggest that Somosaguas-North assemblage was formed by successive debris-flow transport and burial of pre-existing thanatocoenoses. Bones from those thanatocoenoses were modified by biostratinomic agents (trampling, weathering) in varying degrees depending on their time of exposure. Debris-flow transport produced further abrasion and breakage in collagen-depleted bones. Our results are congruent with an environmental context of semiarid landscapes presenting long arid periods and highly irregular hydrological seasonality. Finally, we compared the Somosaguas-North assemblage with other debris-flow hosted vertebrate assemblages. Although Somosaguas-North shares taphonomic features with some of these sites, it is not possible to define consistent and single taphonomic patterns for debris-flow assemblages, given the varied taphonomic histories of the remains prior to and during debris-flow transport. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. Citation statistics:
资源类型: 期刊论文
标识符: http://119.78.100.158/handle/2HF3EXSE/68131
Appears in Collections: 过去全球变化的重建
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作者单位: Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais 12, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Geología Sedimentaria y Cambio Medioambiental, Instituto de Geociencias, UCM, CSIC, C/ José Antonio Novais 12, Madrid, Spain; Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, University of California Santa Cruz, 1156 High StreetCA, United States; Departamento de Paleobiología, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, Spain; Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions und Biodiversitätsforschung, Invalidenstraße 43, Berlin, Germany; Avenida Real 26, Madrid, Spain
Recommended Citation:
Domingo M.S.,Martín-Perea D.,Domingo L.,et al. Taphonomy of mammalian fossil bones from the debris-flow deposits of Somosaguas-North (Middle Miocene, Madrid Basin, Spain)[J]. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology,2017-01-01,465