Inferences on the paleodiet of Dihoplus pikermiensis (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerot idae) from the Late Miocene of North Macedonia through the application of dental mesowear analysis

Vol 28 No 1 (2025): Acta Musei Macedonici Scientiarum Naturalium

Abstract

Three fossil rhinocerotids have been reported from the Late Miocene of North Macedonia: Dihoplus pikermiensis, Miodiceros neumayri and Chilotherium sp.. The material, which was collected by Professor Risto Garevski, comes from the North Macedonian sites of Kiro Kuchuk, Prsten and Umin Dol and belongs to the paleontology collection of the National Institution Natural History Muse um of North Macedonia in Skopje. The present work marks the first report on the paleodiet of fossil rhinos from North Macedonia. We worked on the D. pikermiensis material from Kiro Kuchuk and Prsten using the mesowear ruler method. Our results indicate browsing habits for the species at both sites, in accordance with the literature.