Late Miocene Carnivores from the Greco-Iranian Province: comparisons, guild structure, palaeoecology

The Greco-Iranian Province (Balkans, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan) includes numerous mammal localities, which provided a significant number of carnivores. Although there are several taxonomic studies concerning them, their guild structure and relationships were never studied in details. The present study is a preliminary effort to give some data about their relationships, guild structure and their palaeoecology
   The carnivores of the studied area are separated in groups, including the taxa of each MN zone of the Greco-Iranian Province. The faunal similarity of the defined groups is analyzed, indicating that Vallesian (MN-9 and MN-10) assemblages are well separated from the Turolian (MN-11 and MN-12) ones. Their faunal similarity is low, suggesting different taxa. The MN-13 assemblage is separated from the others due to its limited faunal data.
   The guild structure (comparing body mass, locomotor pattern and diet class) of each MN assemblage is also studied and the diagrams indicate differences between the Vallesian and Turolian carnivoran assemblages. The absence of arboreal forms in all assemblages, as well as the relative abundance of the hyaenids and the cursorial forms suggest a possible open environment. The multivariate analysis of the studied carnivoran assemblages in comparison with the recent ones from known environments confirms their open character. These palaeoecological results fit quite well with the known palaeoenvironmental conditions of the Greco-Iranian Province.