TAXONOMIC REVIEW OF THE PLEISTOCENE EQUIDS FROM MEXICO BASED ON DENTAL MORPHOLOGY

Abstract

A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the dental traits of five horse species from 15 fossiliferous areas from the Pleistocene of Mexico was performed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether Equus mexicanus, E. conversidens, E. excelsus, E. francisci (= E. tau) and E. cedralensis show particular dental morphologies (measurements and occlusal morphology of the molariform) that provide information of systematic significance. To this end, premolars and molars of adult individuals were used to evaluate a set of ten quantitative variables that were analyzed by bivariate and multivariate methods; also, 13 qualitative variables were used to estimate the frequency in the configuration and development degree of the enamel pattern on the occlusal surface for each species. Our results indicate that 60% of the quantitative variables and 40% of the qualitative provide information to distinguish dental morphologies. Based on measures and the enamel pattern the following specific characteristics were recognized: E. mexicanus: large-size occlusal area and relatively complex enamel pattern, E. conversidens: medium-size and moderately complex occlusal enamel and E. francisci: small-size and relatively simple enamel pattern on the occlusal surface. Concerning E. excelsus and E. cedralensis, their dental morphology is closely similar to those of E. conversidens and E. francisci respectively. The observed dental morphology of the Mexican specimens of E. excelsus indicates that part of those should be reconsidered as E. conversidens and part as E. mexicanus. Nevertheless, E. francisci and E. cedralensis are different species that can be recognized by limb characters rather than dental traits. Furthermore, the developing of particular dental patterns in these species is a factor that allowed their coexistence in Mexico during the Pleistocene.

Key-words: dental morphology, Equidae, Equus, Taxonomy, Pleistocene, Mexico.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4072/rbp.2017.2.07