Current trends and issues of dietary reconstruction of ungulates : Focusing on mesowear analysis

Abstract

Mesowear analysis of cheek teeth wear is one of the most effective methods in the reconstruction of paleodiet of extinct ungulates. This paper reviews previous studies of mesowear analysis with other reconstructive methods using fossil teeth. This method compares facet development on the occlusal surface of cheek teeth of the fossil specimens with those of extant ungulates to classify into three dietary food habits; grazer, browser, or mixed feeder. The mesowear analysis is relatively cheap and easy method, so it is possible to apply to a large number of fossil teeth specimens in a short period of time. Although most previous studies were focused on fossil specimens, mesowear analysis for extant species is also important for the sake of methodological improvement or basic data collection for fossil study. Applications of detailed mesowear analyses of extant species data, such as sika deer populations in Japan, are useful for the reconstruction of paleodiet.