A complete skull of chasmaporthetes iunensis (carnivora, hyaenidae) from the Spanish Pliocene site of la Puebla de Valverde (Teruel)

Abstract

A remarkably complete, well-preserved skull of the Pliocene hunting hyaena Chasmaporthetes lunensis from La Puebla de Valverde (Teruel) is described. This exceptional find allows us to define more clearly the cranial morphology of this taxon, and to put its morphological features into evolutionary and functional perspective. Compared with the sympatric hyaenid Pliocrocuta perrieri, C. Iunensis has a higher and wider rostrum, cheek teeth placed more anteriorly in relation to the orbits, a lower zygoma and a dorsally concave saggital crest, all pointing to a lesser development of the muscle temporalis and a greater emphasis on canine bite over premolar crushing bite. Horizontal wear on the premolars, caudal extension of the frontal sinus and other features indicate that scavenging or at least complete utilization of carcasses was a behavioural trait of the hunting hyaena. Overall, the available evidence suggests that C. Iunensis was an active, group hunting predator of medium-sized ungulates, able to fully utilize car-casses but less dedicated to scavenging than the contemporary species P. perrieri.