Cainotheriids vs. lagomorphs: study of their ecological niche partitioning during the early miocene of the Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin (Castello, Spain)

Here we describe the fossil remains of Cainotherium aff. huerzeleri and Lagopsis penai from the Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin (Castello, Spain). We also compare the relative abundance of cainotheriids vs. lagomorphs and discuss the possible direct interaction between both taxa, possibly indicating the competition between both families. The oldest locality in study has a predominance of Cainotherium followed by a dominance of Lagopsis in the next localities. Afterwards we see another interval where the relative abundance of Cainotherium is higher. However, after this period the relative abundance of Lagopsis increases again in one of the most recent sites, with a posterior modest increase in Cainotherium in the youngest locality that also sees a decrease in the abundance of Lagopsis. We can observe a pattern of one taxon attaining higher relative abundance when the other shows a decrease at the same time period, possibly indicating a direct competition between Lagopsis and Cainotherium.