Reassessment of the enigmatic ruminant Miocene genus Amphimoschus Bourgeois, 1873 (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Pecora)

PLoS One. 2021 Jan 29;16(1):e0244661. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244661. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Amphimoschus is an extinct Eurasian ruminant genus, mostly recorded in Europe, without a close living relative and, hence, an unknown systematic position. This genus is known from around 50 localities from the late early to the middle Miocene. Two species were described during 180 years, but since their first description during the late 19th century and early 20th century, hardly any detailed taxonomic work has been done on the genus. Over the years, extensive collecting and excavating activities have enriched collections with more and more complete material of this still rare and enigmatic animal. Most interestingly, a number of skull remains have been unearthed and are promising in terms of providing phylogenetic information. In the present paper, we describe cranial material, the bony labyrinth, the dentition through 780 teeth and five skulls from different ontogenetic stages. We cannot find a clear morphometric distinction between the supposedly smaller and older species Amphimoschus artenensis and the supposedly younger and larger species A. ponteleviensis. Accordingly, we have no reason to retain the two species and propose, following the principle of priority (ICZN chapter 6 article 23), that only A. ponteleviensis Bourgeois, 1873 is valid. Our studies on the ontogenetic variation of Amphimoschus does reveal that the sagittal crest may increase in size and a supraorbital ridge may appear with age. Despite the abundant material, the family affiliation is still uncertain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Artiodactyla / anatomy & histology*
  • Artiodactyla / genetics
  • Biological Evolution
  • Dentition
  • Ear, Inner / anatomy & histology
  • Ear, Inner / metabolism
  • Europe
  • Fossils / anatomy & histology*
  • Phylogeny
  • Ruminants / anatomy & histology*
  • Ruminants / genetics
  • Skull / anatomy & histology
  • Skull / metabolism

Grants and funding

BM and LC are grateful to the Swiss National Science Foundation for supporting this research through the projects P300P2_161065 and P3P3P2_161066 on the evolution of the early ruminants and 200021_178853, 200021_159854/1, and 200021-178853 on the ear region evolution in ruminants. GER thanks the German Research Foundation project RO 1197/3-1. GM, BM, and LC want to thank the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris for financing the Ast-RX-2013-051 Project which permitted to scan the Artenay skull. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.