Fossil History of the Terrestrial Carnivora

摘要: Carnivores, because of their position on the ecological pyramid, are considerably rarer than prey. They also often intelligent and solitary animals, so that chances dying in a fossilizing environment not very good. Exceptions occur when herbivores trapped situation can entrap carnivores. The La Brea Tar Pits California, most famous example such baited trap, have produced one highest numbers fossil carnivorans found any single locality. Cave sites important concentrating localities, as many carnivores use caves fissures lairs. Mixnitz Austria may contained remains nearly 50,000 cave bears (Kurten 1976a). Outside rare, taxa known only from dentitions. In spite these problems, record is good provides answers to questions concerning evolution adaptation diversity