Morphological, biometric and taphonomic analyses of Holocene gerbils from Guenfouda (Eastern Morocco) and first mention of Gerbillus henleyi in a fossil record

The Guenfouda cave, located in eastern Morocco, has yielded an abundant macro- and microvertebrate fauna associated with a rich lithic industry attributed to several cultures (Middle Stone Age, Later Stone Age and Neolithic). Among the microfauna, on the basis of new morphological and biometric data of the upper and lower first molars, we identified two gerbillines of the genus Gerbillus collected from the upper levels of an Holocene age. Gerbillus henleyi is here identified for the first time in the fossil record of North Africa, while G. campestris has been cited previously at this site and in many other Pleistocene and Holocene sites in the Maghreb. The taphonomic study concluded that a medium-sized nocturnal predator (possibly Tyto alba) was likely to be the source of the accumulation of small mammals in the filling of the Guenfouda cave. The palaeoecological reconstruction based on the whole faunal spectrum indicates a semi-open steppic landscape, with patches of more wooded areas and water ponds or streams, which is also characteristic for this region at present.

Automated summary

The Guenfouda cave in eastern Morocco has revealed a diverse collection of macro- and microvertebrate fauna and a significant lithic industry dating back to various cultures. Through the study of teeth morphology and biometric data, two species of Gerbillus were identified for the first time, with one species being new to the North African fossil record. The taphonomic study suggests that a medium-sized nocturnal predator was responsible for the accumulation of small mammals in the cave. The paleoecological reconstruction indicates a semi-open steppic landscape with patches of wooded areas and water ponds, characteristic of the region both in the past and present.