Functional inferences on the long bones of ischyrictis zibethoides (Blainville, 1841) (carnivora, mustelidae) from the middle miocene locality of sansan (Gers, France)

• Published in: Geodiversitas
• Main Authors: Salesa, Manuel J., Siliceo, Gema, Antón, Mauricio, Fabre, Anne-Claire, Pastor, Juan Francisco
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: BioOne 2020
• Subjects: Functional anatomy; Carnivora; Mustelidae; Miocene; Europe; wolverine
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/234931; https://doi.org/10.5252/geodiversitas2020v42a1

[EN] In the present paper, we carry out a deep analysis of the functional anatomy of the long bones of the fossil, wolverine-sized mustelid Ischyrictis zibethoides (Blainville, 1841) in comparison with that of several extant related species. The study reveals that this animal lacked specific adaptations for either climbing or running, probably being a terrestrial predator that foraged mostly on the ground. Thus, some features of the anatomy of its long bones suggests that I. zibethoides required a strong control of those articulations involved in terrestrial locomotion, such as the elbow or the coxofemoral joint. Besides this, the gentle caudal inclination of the ulna resembles the morphology exhibited by typical cursorial carnivorans, whereas the absence of lateral torsion in the olecranon suggests flexion-extension movements of the elbow in a parasagittal plane. Other small details, such as the small attachment area for the m. biceps brachii, points towards a general adaptation to terrestrial locomotion. Besides this, another set of features, shared with extant small arboreal mustelids, probably indicates a primitive, retained morphology from arboreal ancestors, rather than climbing abilities, although is very likely that I. zibethoides would be able to climb trees with some skill looking for food or shelter. [FR] Dans ce papier, nous étudions l’anatomie fonctionnelle des os longs de Ischyrictis zibethoides (Blainville, 1841), une espèce éteinte de Mustelidae de la taille d’un glouton et la comparons avec celle de nombreuses espèces actuelles phylogénétiquement proches. Cette étude met en évidence que cet animal présentait peu d’adaptations pour grimper ou courir et était probablement un prédateur terrestre qui cherchait sa nourriture au sol. En effet, Ischyrictis zibethoides présente des caractéristiques anatomiques des os longs suggérant un fort contrôle de ses articulations, associé à une locomotion terrestre, en particulier au niveau des articulations du coude et coxo-fémorale. En outre, la légère ...