Titre du projet
What is in the head of the European hyaenodonts from the Eocene- Oligocene transition?
Descriptif du projet
The hyaenodonts were the main mammal predators from the Eocene and Oligocene of Europe where they were well diversified. The hyaenodonts are notably recorded in the localities from the Quercy Phosphorites (France) that range from the late Eocene to the early Oligocene. The hyaenodonts were also present and ecologically important in Asia, North America and Africa, but the diversity recorded in the Phosphorites is unknown in the rest of the world. The systematics among the hyaenodonts is still discussed. I am importantly involved in this research, which bothers the reconstruction of their origin. Regarding this problematic, the acquisition of information concerning the endocranial, bony labyrinth and turbinate morphology of the hyaenodonts recorded in Quercy area could provide very interesting results. Indeed, the relationships among hyaenodonts are discussed generally only based on dental features. No publication deals with the internal cranial features in hyaenodonts. I plan in a first step to investigate these structures in Hyainailourinae, Hyaenodontinae and Limnocyoninae because the subfamilies are represented by well-preserved skulls. More broadly, the acquisition of information on the endocranium and bony labyrinth could serve in the future for discussing the monophyly of the "Creodonta" (Oxyaenidae + Hyaenodonta) and of the Ferae (Carnivora + "Creodonta").

Travaux réalisés par la plateforme AST-RX

Collection No Inventaire Descriptif Vignette Equipement
F QU8301 deux stacks séparés v|tome|x L 240-180
F QU8590 un seul stack v|tome|x L 240-180
F QU8649 deux stacks séparés v|tome|x L 240-180