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2025 in paleomammalogy
Overview of the events of 2025 in paleomammalogy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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New taxa of fossil mammals of every kind are scheduled to be described during the year 2025, along with other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of mammals that are scheduled to occur that year.
Afrotherians
Proboscideans
Proboscidean research
- Dooley et al. (2025) reevaluate the affinities of mastodon fossil material from Oregon and Washington (United States), Alberta (Canada) and Hidalgo and Jalisco (Mexico), extending known geographical range of Mammut pacificus, and providing probable evidence of presence of both M. pacificus and M. americanum in close geographical proximity.[1]
- Jukar, Millhouse & Carrano (2025) revise the fossil material attributed to Amebelodon floridanus, assign a neotype specimen of this species and support its placement in the genus Amebelodon.[2]
- Luna et al. (2025) study mandibular lesions in two specimens of Notiomastodon platensis from the Pleistocene strata from Argentina, and diagnose both individuals as affected by secondary chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible.[3]
- Mothé et al. (2025) determine the age of remains of Notiomastodon platensis from Córdoba Province (Argentina), providing evidence of presence of the species in the studied area from Ensenadan to Lujanian.[4]
- González-Guarda et al. (2025) report evidence of frugivory of Notiomastodon platensis, and argue that the studied proboscidean may have acted as a seed disperser and its extinction may have increased the extinction risk of plants whose seeds it used to disperse.[5]
- Sankhyan, Abbas & Sehgal (2025) describe fossil material of Stegodon sp. from the Pliocene strata of the Tatrot Formation, representing the first confirmed record a member of this genus from Himachal Pradesh (India).[6]
- Evidence from the study of carbon and oxygen isotope values of tooth enamel of Palaeoloxodon from Early and Middle Pleistocene localities in the Afar Rift (Ethiopia), indicative of dietary flexibility of members of the "Palaeoloxodon recki complex", is presented by Luyt, Sahle & Stynder (2025).[7]
- Evidence of diets of Palaeoloxodon naumanni and mammoths from the Pleistocene sites in Japan, including possible evidence of different foraging behaviors of the studied proboscideans in Hokkaido, is presented by Naito (2025).[8]
- A study on the diets of the straight-tusked elephants and mammoths from the Pliocene and Pleistocene strata of the Ptolemais Basin, Mygdonia Basin, Drama Basin and the Neapolis-Grevena Basin (Greece) is published by Tsakalidis et al. (2025).[9]
- A study on the evolutionary history of mammoths during the last million years, based on data from mitogenomes (including 34 newly reported ones), is published by Chacón-Duque et al. (2025).[10]
- A study on mammoth teeth from the Pleistocene strata in Alberta (Canada), providing evidence of presence of three morphotypes – including a morphotype intermediate between the woolly mammoth and the Columbian mammoth – is published by Barrón-Ortiz, Jass & Cammidge (2025).[11]
- A study on the dietary habits of Columbian mammoths from the Tultepec I and Tultpec II sites (Mexico), providing evidence of mixed C3/C4 diet for the majority of the studied specimens, is published by Rodríiguez-Franco et al. (2025).[12]
- Gardner, Jass & Hutchinson (2025) identify a probable distal prehallux and a fused sesamoid pair from the digits in Columbian mammoth specimens from the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs (South Dakota, United States), representing the first records of these elements reported in extinct elephantids.[13]
- Belyaev & Prilepskaya (2025) compare morphology and intervertebral mobility of the vertebral column of extant elephants, steppe mammoths, woolly mammoths and American mastodons.[14]
Sirenians
Sirenian research
- Ducrocq et al. (2025) report the discovery of fossil material (including a well-preserved and almost complete skull) of a specimen of Metaxytherium medium from the Miocene strata in France, and estimate body size of the studied specimen.[15]
Other afrotherians
Miscellaneous afrotherian research
- Crespo & Castillo (2025) reject the arguments of Furió, Minwer-Barakat & García-Alix (2024), who considered the fossil material of Europotamogale melkarti to be remains of a water-mole of the genus Archaeodesmana,[16] and reaffirm the validity of E. melkarti.[17]
- New information on the skull anatomy of Postschizotherium, based on the study of a nearly complete skull from the Pleistocene strata from the Longdan locality (China), is provided by Xing et al. (2025).[18]
- Gheerbrant, Billet & Pickford (2025) describe new fossil material of Namatherium blackcrowense from the Eocene strata from the Black Crow site (Namibia), providing new information on the anatomy of the studied embrithopod.[19]
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Euarchontoglires
Summarize
Perspective
Primates
Primate research
- Avaria-Llautureo et al. (2025) interpret the areas of northern continents with variable but nontropical climates as the most likely ancestral locations for the crown group of primates, which only colonized tropical areas later in their evolutionary history.[21]
- Evidence from the study of brain endocasts of extant and extinct mammals, indicative of cortical expansion in the areas of the brain involved in producing cognitive functions that began early on during the primate evolution, is presented by Melchionna et al. (2025), who argue that selection for complex cognition likely drove the evolution of primate brains.[22]
- Lang et al. (2025) study the size of the olfactory bulbs in extant and fossil members of Euarchontoglires, and report evidence of a reduction of the olfactory bulb size at the base of the primate crown group, as well as subsequent reductions in different primate groups.[23]
- Evidence from the study of size of brain and its components in extant primates and Oligocene and Miocene simians, interpreted as indicative of convergent brain enlargement in multiple simian lineages and of shifts in brain proportions before brain enlargement in simians, is presented by Kay et al. (2025).[24]
- Kirk et al. (2025) describe a primate frontal bone from the Eocene Devil's Graveyard Formation (Texas, United States), with similarities to the frontal bone of Rooneyia viejaensis, and interpret its anatomy as indicating that both the studied specimen and Rooneyia as more likely to be stem haplorhines than stem simians.[25]
- Evidence from the study of the anatomy of manubria and sternebrae of extant and fossil simians, indicating that the anatomy of the sternum can provide information on the form of the thorax and the positional repertoire of the clavicles in fossil simians, is presented by Middleton, Alwell & Ward (2025).[26]
- Novo et al. (2025) study the phylogenetic affinities of Soriacebus and Mazzonicebus, and interpret them as more likely to be pitheciines than stem-platyrrhines.[27]
- Perry et al. (2025) describe new fossil material of Homunculus patagonicus from the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation (Argentina), provide new body mass estimates for the studied species, and interpret H. patagonicus as an arboreal primate with a mixed diet of fruits and leaves.[28]
- A study on tooth wear and probable diets of Miocene and Pliocene Old World monkeys from the Turkana Basin (Kenya) is published by Fehringer et al. (2025).[29]
- Brasil et al. (2025) revise the species-level taxonomy of South African Parapapio, and argue that the available evidence does not support assignment of the studied fossil material to more than one species.[30]
- A study on the ulnar morphology of Pliobates cataloniae, providing evidence of an extensive range of movement in the forearm, is published by Raventós-Izard et al. (2025).[31]
- Description of the anatomy of the skull and teeth of Laccopithecus robustus and a study on its affinities is published by Harrison (2025).[32]
- Beaudet et al. (2025) study the morphology of the atlas of Otavipithecus namibiensis and Nacholapithecus kerioi, and report evidence of similarities with the vertebrae of baboons, gibbons and members of the genus Pan, with Otavipithecus similar in particular to Pan in the overall morphology of the atlas.[33]
- Kithinji, Kikuchi & Nakatsukasa (2025) describe a catarrhine talus from the Miocene strata from the Nachola site (Kenya), likely belonging to a member of the genus Nyanzapithecus, and interpret its anatomy as indicating that Nyanzapithecus was less agile while walking and running in the trees than extant Old World monkeys of similar size.[34]
- Pugh, Strain & Gilbert (2025) study the anatomy of teeth of Samburupithecus kiptalami and interpret it as a late-occurring African member of the family Oreopithecidae.[35]
- A study on the morphology of the lumbar vertebrae of Ekembo nyanzae, Morotopithecus bishopi and Pierolapithecus catalaunicus, and on its implications for the knowledge of the locomotion of the studied apes, is published by Williams et al. (2025).[36]
- Revision of the fossil material and species differences of members of the genus Ekembo is published by McNulty, Begun & Kelley (2025).[37]
- A study on the morphology and affinities of Kapi ramnagarensis is published by Gilbert et al. (2025), who interpret the studied primate as a stem-hylobatid.[38]
- A study on the tooth wear of Lufengpithecus lufengensis, providing evidence of a diet that included tough foods such as leaves, is published by Fan et al. (2025).[39]
- Evidence from the study of faciodental remains of pongines from northern Vietnam, interpreted as consistent with the presence of two large and two small species of orangutans during the Late Pleistocene, is presented by Cameron et al. (2025);[40] in a subsequent study the same authors revise the diversity of the Middle and Late Pleistocene pongines from northern Vietnam on the basis of variability of post-canine teeth, recognize two new species of Pongo from the Late Pleistocene of Làng Tráng and Kéo Lèng caves, and reclassify "Pongo" hooijeri and "Pongo pygmaeus" kahlkei as species belonging to the genus Langsonia, interpreted as a primitive member of the Ponginae.[41]
General paleoanthropology
- Sekhavati, Prang & Strait (2025) study the evolution of foot morphology in early hominins, and interpret their findings as supporting the hypothesis of a Pan-like chimpanzee–human last common ancestor.[42]
- Lawrence, Hammond & Ward (2025) compare the orientation of the acetabulum in fossil hominins and extant primates, reporting evidence of humanlike condition in early Australopithecus.[43]
- Evidence from the study of nitrogen and carbonate carbon isotope composition of tooth enamel of Australopithecus from the Sterkfontein Member 4 (South Africa), interpreted as indicating that the studied specimens had a plant-based diet and did not regularly eat mammalian meat, is presented by Lüdecke et al. (2025).[44]
- Madupe et al. (2025) provide evidence of protein preservation in tooth enamel of the Australopithecus africanus specimen Sts 63 from Sterkfontein Member 4, and identify the studied individual as a male.[45]
- Evidence from the study of internal bone structure of phalanx bones of Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi, interpreted as indicative of different dexterous abilities and climbing strategies of the studied hominins, is presented by Syeda et al. (2025).[46]
- A study on the surface organization of the endocast of the Taung Child is published by Hurst et al. (2025).[47]
- Evidence of morphological variation among maxillae of specimens of Australopithecus afarensis from Hadar (Ethiopia), possibly linked to sexual dimorphism, is presented by Hanegraef & Spoor (2025).[48]
- A study on curvature of occipital condyles of Australopithecus afarensis and extant hominins, providing evidence that A. afarensis was Pan-like in condylar morphology and development, is published by Grider-Potter et al. (2025).[49]
- Evidence from the study of clavicles of Australopithecus afarensis, interpreted as consistent with continued arboreal behavior throughout life of the studied hominin, is presented by Farrell & Alemseged (2025).[50]
- Hanegraef, David & Spoor (2025) determine the range of variation of size and shape of dental arcades of Australopithecus afarensis, and argue that their findings can be used to assess whether other Plio-Pleistocene hominin specimens fall within the range of variation of A. afarensis, helping with their taxonomic interpretations.[51]
- Evidence of more significant sexual dimorphism in Australopithecus afarensis and A. africanus compared to chimpanzees and modern humans is presented by Gordon (2025).[52]
- A study on the inner structural morphology of teeth of Australopithecus sediba, providing evidence of closer similarity to teeth of other members of the genus Australopithecus than to teeth of early members of the genus Homo, is published by Davies (2025).[53]
- Zanolli et al. (2025) study the anatomy and affinities of the Pleistocene hominin mandible SK 15 from Swartkrans Member 2, South Africa (the holotype of Telanthropus capensis), and interpret this specimen as belonging to a previously unrecognized species of Paranthropus, P. capensis.[54]
- A study on the morphology of the oval window in Paranthropus robustus, interpreted as spanning the ape-human spectrum, is published by Fernandez & Braga (2025).[55]
- Fossil material of a young adult hominin specimen, including a complete tibia and a nearly complete femur articulating with a partial hip bone, is described from the Hanging Remnant of the Swartkrans Formation (South Africa) by Pickering et al. (2025), who assign the studied individual to the species Paranthropus robustus.[56]
- Madupe et al. (2025) identify sex of four specimens of Paranthropus robustus on the basis of their enamel peptides, and report probable evidence of existence of distinct subgroups within this species.[57]
- Sillen, Dean & Balter (2025) reconstruct life histories of individuals of Paranthropus robustus from Swartkrans and Kromdraai (South Africa) on the basis of the analysis of strontium isotope composition of their teeth, and report evidence of exploitation of both savanna and riparian woodlands, as well as evidence of dispersal and lifelong local residence of different individuals.[58]
- Evidence from the study of paleosols from the hominin and archaeological sites from the Gona Paleoanthropological Project area (Ethiopia) ranging from the Oldowan to the Late Stone Age, interpreted as indicative of reliance of hominins on riverine ecosystem edge and gallery forest resources throughout their evolutionary history, is presented by Stinchcomb, Rogers & Semaw (2025).[59]
- Williams et al. (2025) interpret early members of the genus Homo and, after the emergence of the Acheulean, Paranthropus boisei as the most likely makers of the Oldowan tools.[60]
- Fannin et al. (2025) report evidence of behavioral shifts of early members of the genus Homo after 2.3 million years ago involving avoidance of C4 plants and ingestion of 18O-depleted waters, possibly related to shift towards consumption of plant underground storage organs such as tubers, and report evidence indicating that these behavioral shifts preceded changes in tooth morphology.[61]
- Coil (2025) proposes that the expansion of hominins out of Africa was facilitated by rich Eurasian carnivore community that created multiple scavenging opportunities for early hominins, and reports evidence that sustained hominin presence in Eurasia was followed by decrease in carnivore richness at the end of the Early Pleistocene.[62]
- Curran et al. (2025) describe cut-marked bones interpreted as evidence of presence of hominins at the Grăunceanu site (Romania) at least 1.95 milion years ago.[63]
- Evidence of systematic production of technologically and morphologically standardized bone tools by hominins living 1.5 million years ago is reported from Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) by de la Torre et al. (2025).[64]
- A study on facial features of infants of early members of the genus Homo from the Lower Omo Valley (Ethiopia), Drimolen and Kromdraai (South Africa), providing evidence of presence of diagnostic facial features in the studied individuals from South Africa, is published by Braga & Moggi-Cecchi (2025).[65]
- Evidence indicating that Homo habilis, unlike most australopiths but like modern humans, was not adapted to bite forcefully on its molar teeth is presented by Ledogar et al. (2025).[66]
- Pietrobelli et al. (2025) study the anatomy of fibular ends of Homo floresiensis, interpreted as indicative of presence of a versatile ankle joint consistent with a locomotor repertoire including obligate bipedalism as well as climbing.[67]
- Hakim et al. (2025) report the discovery of stone artifacts from fossiliferous layers from the Calio site (Sulawesi, Indonesia) that are at least 1.04 million years old and possibly up to 1.48 million years old, providing evidence that hominins colonized Sulawesi as early as (or earlier than) Flores.[68]
- Chapman et al. (2025) reconstruct the skeleton of the leg of Homo naledi, and interpret its anatomy as casting doubt on the capabilities of H. naledi for endurance running.[69]
- Baab (2025) presents a virtual reconstruction of the skull of the Turkana Boy.[70]
- Mercader et al. (2025) present evidence indicating that Homo erectus occupying the Engaji Nanyori locality (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania) one million years ago lived in extremely dry environment, and showed ability to adapt to such environment through the strategic use of water resources present in the studied area.[71]
- Falk, Zollikofer & Ponce de León (2025) hypothesize that structures buried within the lunate sulcus expanded and became part of the external cortical surface during the hominin evolution, resulting in fragmentation of the lunate sulcus, and report possible evidence of fragmentation of the lunate sulcus in Dmanisi hominins.[72]
- Huguet et al. (2025) report the discovery of the midface of a hominin living between 1.4 million and 1.1 million years ago from the Sima del Elefante site (Spain), representing the oldest hominin face from Western Europe reported to date, and assign it to Homo aff. erectus.[73]
- Review of known record of technologies used by hominins living in Europe from 1.4 million years ago to 600,000 years ago is published by Rodríguez-Álvarez & Lozano (2025).[74]
- Vialet et al. (2025) reevaluate the age and morphological affinities of the frontal bone of a Pleistocene hominin from Kocabaş (Turkey) studied by Mori et al. (2024),[75] and determine the studied fossil to be between 1.6 and 1.2 million years old.[76]
- Review of the nomenclature of the Middle Pleistocene hominins is published by Reed (2025).[77]
- A study aiming to determine the connection between facial morphology and geography in Middle Pleistocene hominins is published by Olsen & White (2025).[78]
- Review of the studies of skeletal proteomes of Middle and Late Pleistocene hominins, as well as of challenges in the proteomic analyses of the Pleistocene material, is published by Welker et al. (2025).[79]
- Schroeder & Komza (2025) study the morphological variation of skull of Middle Pleistocene hominins from Africa, and interpret it as consistent with attribution of the studied hominins to a single ecological species lineage.[80]
- Balzeau et al. (2025) revise the morphology of the Florisbad Skull, do not confirm the presence of pathological features reported by Curnoe & Brink (2010),[81] and report evidence of presence of anatomical traits different from those of Homo sapiens.[82]
- Evidence from the study of starch grains found on basalt tools from the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov site (Israel), indicating that Middle Pleistocene hominins from the site processed diverse plants, is preserved by Ahituv et al. (2025).[83]
- Evidence from the study of stone tools, ochre fragments, animal remains likely accumulated by hominins and funerary practices of hominins from the Tinshemet Cave (Israel), interpreted as indicative of development of uniform behavior among mid-Middle Palaeolithic Levantine hominins that was likely related to interactions between different Homo groups, is presented by Zaidner et al. (2025).[84]
- Liu et al. (2025) report the discovery of a new assemblage of wooden tools from the 300,000-year-old site of Gantangqing (甘棠箐) in southwest China, interpreted as digging sticks and small pointed tools, and expanding known range of hominins using wooden tools during the early Paleolithic.[85]
- A study on teeth of Hualongdong people, providing evidence of presence of a mixture of primitive and derived dental features, is published by Wu et al. (2025).[86]
- Hui, Wu & Balzeau (2025) study internal structures of the Maba Man, and report evidence of presence of combination of morphological features also present in different hominin species.[87]
- Tsutaya et al. (2025) identify the Penghu 1 mandible as belonging to a male Denisovan individual on the basis of paleoproteomic evidence.[88]
- Fu et al. (2025) retrieve mitochondrial DNA from dental calculus of the Pleistocene hominin skull from Harbin (China) which is the holotype of Homo longi, and report that it falls within the variation of previously sequenced Denisovan mitochondrial DNA;[89] Fu et al. (2025) retrieve 95 endogenous proteins from the same individual, and interpret them as supporting the assignment of the Harbin individual to a Denisovan population.[90]
- Ruan et al. (2025) report the discovery of a Quina technological system from the Longtan site, providing evidence that Middle Paleolithic technologies similar to those used by European Neanderthals were also used in southwest China 60,000-50,000 years ago.[91]
- Evidence from the study of the mortality pattern of bisons from the TD10.2-BB bone bed layer from the Gran Dolina site in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Spain), interpreted as indicating that human groups occupying the site exploited bison sustainably, is presented by Rodríguez-Gómez et al. (2025).[92]
- A study on evolutionary processes that resulted in the emergence of a mosaic of primitive and derived anatomical traits in the Middle Pleistocene hominin populations from the Neanderthal lineage is published by Rosas et al. (2025).[93]
- Evidence indicating that, on average, Neanderthals had thicker cranial vault and its individual layers compared to modern humans is presented by Natahi et al. (2025).[94]
- Macak et al. (2025) link the variant of AMPD1 present in Neanderthals to reduced AMPD activity in muscle extracts, and find possible evidence of its impact on athletic performance, but find no evidence of its significant impact on average human physiology.[95]
- Palancar, García-Martínez & Bastir (2025) study the morphology of the Neanderthal cervical spine, and report evidence that Neanderthals may not have a reduced cervical lordosis compared to modern humans.[96]
- Beasley, Lesnik & Speth (2025) argue that reconstructions of Neanderthal diets based on studies of bulk collagen nitrogen stable isotope ratios should take into account that results of stable nitrogen isotope analyses might be affected by consumption of animal foods laced with maggots by Neanderthals.[97]
- Evidence indicating that Schöningen spears are approximately 200,000 years old is presented by Hutson et al. (2025).[98]
- Urciuoli et al. (2025) report evidence of reduction of morphological diversity of bony labyrinths in the Neanderthal lineage after the start of Marine Isotope Stage 5, interpreted as possibly related to a population bottleneck.[99]
- Evidence from the study of body parts of large mammals from Neumark-Nord (Germany), interpreted as indicating that Neanderthals occupying the site during the Last Interglacial intensively processed carcasses of large mammals for marrow and grease, is presented by Kindler et al. (2025).[100]
- A study on remains of animals hunted by Neanderthals from the level D of the Axlor site (Spain), providing evidence of Neanderthals hunting different prey depending on the season, is published by Uzunidis et al. (2025).[101]
- Evidence indicating that Neanderthals from the Scladina cave (Belgium) crafted bone tools from remains of cave lions, and selected long bones (tibia) for production of chisel-like tools that were subsequently fractured to produce bone retouchers, is presented by Abrams et al. (2025).[102]
- Neanderthal tracks produced in coastal dune landscapes are reported from two new tracksites from Portugal by Neto de Carvalho et al. (2025).[103]
- Degioanni et al. (2025) determine the extent of environments that were suitable from Neanderthal occupation in Europe between 90,000 and 50,000 years ago, report that the extent of suitable areas did not significantly decrease immediately prior to the disappearance of Neanderthals, and argue that the climate change was not the primary cause of the decline of European Neanderthals.[104]
- Evidence from the study of a hip bone from the El Sidrón site (Spain), indicative of a previously unrecognized variability of the morphology of the Neanderthal pelvis, is presented by Torres-Tamayo et al. (2025).[105]
- Evidence from the study of the Bété I site from the Anyama locality (Ivory Coast), indicative of human occupation of West African wet tropical forests dating to around 150,000 years ago, is presented by Ben Arous et al. (2025).[106]
- Velliky et al. (2025) describe Middle Stone Age artifacts made from ochre from the Blombos Cave (South Africa), interpreted as retouchers and pressure flakers.[107]
- Hallett et al. (2025) report evidence of expansion in human niche breadth that began around 70,000 years ago, resulting in distinctive ecological flexibility of humans contributing to their successful dispersal out of Africa.[108]
- Röding et al. (2025) study the morphology of teeth of a juvenile hominin individual from the Pleistocene Mugharet el'Aliya cave site (Morocco), and interpret it as consistent with affinities with the Homo sapiens lineage.[109]
- Timbrell et al. (2025) provide evidence of ecological differences between northwestern and eastern Africa during the Middle Stone Age, and argue that those differences might have been drivers of cultural diversification between human populations producing Middle Stone Age technology.[110]
- Jiang et al. (2025) provide evidence of rapid increase in fire activity in the East China Sea region since 50,000 years ago, interpreted as linked to increase in fire utilization by humans.[111]
- Kaifu et al. (2025) report evidence from sea travel from Taiwan to Yonaguni conducted in 2019, using a dugout canoe produced with Upper Paleolithic tools, indicating that Paleolithic people were capable crossing the strait separating Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands in spite of strong currents;[112] Chang et al. (2025) report that such sea crossing required awareness of the Kuroshio Current, adjustment of paddling to counteract it, and choice of the right departure place by the Paleolithic people.[113]
- Matthews et al. (2025) study new palaeoclimatic record from Llangorse (South Wales, United Kingdom) near the earliest British archaeological sites, and find that repopulation of the northwest margin of Europe by humans after the Last Glacial Maximum was supported by local summer warming.[114]
- Schürch, Conard & Schmidt (2025) study the raw material sourcing of tools from the Gravettian and Magdalenian sites in Germany, and interpret their findings as indicating that territories of foraging groups that occupied the studied sites spanned across 300 km.[115]
- Sparacello et al. (2025) study projectile impact marks from remains of a Paleolithic individual from the Riparo Tagliente site (Italy), interpreted as possible evidence of a conflict between different groups of hunter-gatherers, and among the oldest possible evidence of such conflicts.[116]
- Mori et al. (2025) confirm that the AC12 cranium from the Upper Paleolithic Arene Candide site (Italy) represents the oldest human skull with evidence of artificial modification from Europe reported to date.[117]
- Marginedas et al. (2025) interpret evidence of manipulation of human remains from the Magdalenian site Maszycka Cave (Poland) as consistent with cannibalistic behavior.[118]
- The oldest evidence of human occupation of high-altitude territories in Australia reported to date, indicative of occupation of Dargan Shelter in the upper Blue Mountains during the Last Glacial Maximum, is presented by Way et al. (2025).[119]
- New evidence interpreted as supporting dating of the White Sands footprints to the Last Glacial Maximum is presented by Holliday et al. (2025).[120]
- A study on the human distribution in South America during the late Pleistocene is published by Becerra-Valdivia (2025), who reports evidence of adaptation of humans to cold environments during the Antarctic Cold Reversal and widespread occupation of the continent that likely happened after the Younger Dryas.[121]
- Evidence from the study of ribcages of fossil Homo sapiens, indicative of impact of climatic conditions on size and shape of ribcages in the studied individuals, is presented by López-Rey et al. (2025).[122]
- Evidence from the study of ancient DNA of individuals living in Eurasia in the time interval spanning from 45,000 to 1700 years ago, indicative of persistence of individuals with dark or intermediate skin colors in Europe up to the Iron Age (coexisting with individuals with light skin colors since the Mesolithic), is presented by Perretti et al. (2025).[123]
Rodents
Rodent research
- Quintana Cardona & Riera Pons (2025) study the morphology of the cribriform plate of a member of the genus Hypnomys from the Ses Tapareres Cave in Menorca (Spain), and interpret the sensory systems of Hypnomys as better developed than those of Myotragus balearicus and Nuralagus rex.[130]
- Grau-Camats et al. (2025) describe new fossil material of Miopetaurista webbi from the Gray Fossil Site (Tennessee, United States) and interpret the species as likely closely related to the Eurasian species M. thaleri.[131]
- Candela, García-Esponda & Noriega (2025) revise the holotype of Paradoxomys cancrivorus from the Miocene strata in northeast Argentina, and reassign it to the species Coendou magnus.[132]
- Fernández et al. (2025) revise the fossil material of late Pleistocene caviines from the Buenos Aires Province (Argentina), and reaffirm the validity of Galea tixiensis.[133]
- Escamilla et al. (2025) describe fossil material of members of the genera Prolagostomus and Chasicomys from the Miocene strata in the Calahoyo locality (Jujuy Province, Argentina), representing the first recorded co-occurrence of members of the two genera and extending known temporal range of Prolagostomus.[134]
- New information on the anatomy and affinities of Telicomys giganteus, based on the study of a new specimen, is provided by Rasia et al. (2025).[135]
- A study on the brain morphology of Pliocene specimens of Eumysops chapalmalensis is published by Fernández Villoldo et al. (2025).[136]
- Bogel, Vassallo & Becerra (2025) reconstruct jaw adductor muscles of Actenomys priscus, estimate its bite force, and report evidence of closer similarity of its musculature and (estimated) bite force to those of octodontids than to those of extant tuco-tucos.[137]
- De Santi & Verzi (2025) revise the Pleistocene tuco-tuco species Ctenomys latidens, interpreting it as a distinct species and likely a senior synonym of C. dasseni and C. intermedius.[138]
- A study on the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of extant and fossil birch mice is published by Zhu et al. (2025).[139]
- Crespo et al. (2025) study the composition of the early Miocene muroid assemblage from the Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin (Spain), and interpret the studied rodents as living in an environmental that was transitional between forests of west Europe and drier interior of the Iberian Peninsula.[140]
- A study on changes of the first molar during the evolutionary history of the Kislangia lineage in Western Europe during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene is published by Agustí, Lozano-Fernández & Piñero (2025).[141]
- A study on the evolution of tooth morphology of arvicoline rodents, as indicated by data from fossil record and by data on development of teeth of extant arvicolines, is published by Lafuma et al. (2025), who interpret their findings as indicating that morphological evolution of teeth was shaped by tooth development.[142]
- Fox & Blois (2025) identify molars of pack rats from the Project 23 Deposits of the La Brea Tar Pits as belonging to big-eared woodrats.[143]
- A study on the morphology of molars of Pleistocene large-bodied rats from the Mata Menge site (Flores, Indonesia) and on their affinities is published by Hayes et al. (2025), who report evidence of similarities of the studied molars with those of Hooijeromys nusatenggara and Verhoeven's giant rat.[144]
Other euarchontoglires
Miscellaneous euarchontoglires research
- Čermák et al. (2025) revise the taxonomy of Pliocene lagomorphs from the Tollo de Chiclana section of the Guadix Basin (Spain).[146]
- Kalaitzi & Kostopoulos (2025) describe new fossil material of Trischizolagus from the Pliocene strata from the Megalo Emvolon-4 site (Greece), providing new information on the cranial anatomy of T. dumitrescuae.[147]
- Chester et al. (2025) describe a specimen of Mixodectes pungens from the Paleocene Nacimiento Formation (New Mexico, United States) representing the most complete mixodectid specimen reported to date, and interpret its anatomy as supporting the primatomorphan affinities of mixodectids.[148]
- New information on the anatomy of the skull of Plesiolestes nacimienti is provided by Crowell, Beard & Chester (2025).[149]
- Monclús-Gonzalo et al. (2025) study the relationship between tarsal shape and locomotor behavior in extant primates and apply their findings to plesiadapiforms and early euprimates, reporting evidence of diverse locomotor repertoires in the latter group.[150]
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Laurasiatherians
Summarize
Perspective
Artiodactyls
Cetaceans
Cetacean research
- Peacock et al. (2025) study evolution of the hearing ability in Eocene cetaceans, and find no strong evidence of a link between changes in relative brain size and shifts toward high-frequency hearing.[154]
- A study on changes of shape of the humerus in extant and extinct cetaceans is published by Ghazali et al. (2025).[155]
- A study on the morphological variation of the mandibular symphysis in extant and extinct cetaceans is published by Strauch, Pyenson & Peredo (2025).[156]
- Berger et al. (2025) study the endocranial anatomy of Protocetus atavus, reporting evidence of a relatively larger brain compared to other Eocene non-basilosaurid cetaceans and no evidence of reduced sense of smell in Protocetus.[157]
- Paul & Larramendi (2025) provide new estimates of body size of Perucetus colossus, interpreted as most likely to have body length of 15 to 16 m and body mass of 35 to 40 tonnes.[158]
- Redescription and a study on the affinities of Prosqualodon australis is published by Gaetán et al. (2025).[159]
- Nelson, Lambert & Uhen (2025) revise the validity of European members of the family Squalodontidae, recognizing only 8 valid species,[160] and redescribe Squalodon grateloupii[161] and Eosqualodon langewieschei.[162]
- Watmore, Prothero & Madan Richards (2025) describe a tooth of a large-bodied member of Physeteroidea from the Miocene strata in California (most likely from the Capistrano Formation), providing evidence of presence of Livyatan-like macroraptorial sperm whales in the North Pacific.[163]
- Redescription and a study on the affinities of Idiorophus patagonicus is published by Paolucci, Buono & Fernández (2025).[164]
- Hernández Cisneros & Velez-Juarbe (2025) describe the skeletal anatomy of Fucaia goedertorum, and interpret the studied cetacean as a raptorial feeder with high maneuverability.[165]
- Nobile et al. (2025) describe the skull of an archaic chaeomysticete, possibly closely related to the Oligocene Horopeta, from the Miocene (Burdigalian) Chilcatay Formation (Peru), representing the oldest chaeomysticete specimen from the southeastern Pacific reported to date.[166]
- Solis-Añorve & Buono (2025) describe probable non-neobalaenine cetotheriid fossil material from the Miocene Puerto Madryn Formation (Argentina), expanding known diversity of baleen whale morphotypes from Patagonia.[167]
Other artiodactyls
Other artiodactyl research
- Robson & Theodor (2025) reevaluate the anatomy and affinities of Bunomeryx, and consider its classification as purported early tylopod to be uncertain.[181]
- Prothero & Kottkamp (2025) describe the skull of Hesperhys vagrans from the Miocene Barstow Formation (California, United States) reported by Lofgren et al. (2015),[182] providing new information on the skull morphology of this species.[183]
- A study on the dental morphology and on the affinities of "Parachleuastochoerus" valentini is published by Alba et al. (2025), who interpret the studied species as distinct from Conohyus simorrensis and Versoporcus steinheimensis, and interpret the genus Parachleuastochoerus as likely polyphyletic.[184]
- A study on tooth wear and probable dietary preferences of members of the genus Kolpochoerus from the Shungura Formation (Ethiopia) is published by Louail et al. (2025), who interpret their findings as suggestive of high consumption of low-abrasive grasses and forbs.[185]
- A study on the morphology of the skull and teeth of Sus brachygnatus and Sus macrognathus is published by Pacheco-Scarpitta (2025).[186]
- A study on the morphological variation of the astragalus in extant and extinct ruminants is published by Orgebin et al. (2025).[187]
- Marra (2025) reports the discovery of fossil material of Bohlinia attica from the Miocene strata from Cessaniti (Italy), representing the westernmost record of the species reported to date.[188]
- Marra (2025) describes fossil material of Samotherium boissieri from the Miocene strata from Cessaniti, providing evidence of similarities of composition of Miocene faunas from Cessaniti and from the Greco-Iranian bioprovince.[189]
- Evidence from the study of tooth enamel of Pleistocene cervids and bovids from Southeast Asia, interpreted as indicative of dietary shifts of chitals, Eld's deers, bantengs and gaurs that were likely related to habitat shift from open environments to forests, as well as indicating that extant wild water buffaloes and sambar deers have more restricted diets and habitat compared to Pleistocene ones, is presented by Shaikh, Bocherens & Suraprasit (2025).[190]
- A study on tooth histology and growth of Procervulus ginsburgi is published by Cuccu et al. (2025).[191]
- Kuo et al. (2025) study the anatomy of the American mountain deer, interpret it as a member of the genus Navahoceros that was distinct from Odocoileus and more closely related to the reindeer, and argue that the studied deer was not a specialized rock climber;[192] Kuo & Prothero (2025) report evidence of different growth patterns of bones of forelimbs and hindlimbs of American mountain deer specimens from the San Josecito Cave (Nuevo León, Mexico).[193]
- Van der Made et al. (2025) describe a reindeer tooth from the Galería site at Atapuerca (Spain), representing the southernmost record of a reindeer in Eurasia during Marine Isotope Stage 8.[194]
- A study on tooth wear in bovids from the Ethiopian fossil sites in the Lee Adoyta basin and the Maka'amitalu basin, indicating that the studied bovids were primarily grazers and indicative of wide availability of grasses in the studied areas during the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition, is published by Kirkpatrick et al. (2025).[195]
- Malherbe et al. (2025) study the morphology of metacarpals and metatarsals of bovids from the Pleistocene Koobi Fora Formation (Kenya), interpreted as indicating that the studied bovids (and early hominins from the same formation) lived in the area dominated by open habitats throughout the Early Pleistocene.[196]
- Wang et al. (2025) report the discovery of new skull of "Gazella" nihensis from the Pliocene strata of the Zeku Composite Foreland Basin (China), preserving evidence of morphology is distinct from most other members of Antilopina.[197]
- Bai et al. (2025) describe fossil material of Pliotragus cf. ardeus from the Pleistocene strata from the Xinyaozi locality (China), representing the first record of a member of the genus Pliotragus from eastern Asia.[198]
- Purported mandible of the hippopotamus reported from the lower Pleistocene strata of the Yıldırımlı Formation (Turkey) by Tuna (1988)[199] is reinterpreted as the earliest record of Hippopotamus antiquus from Anatolia reported to date by Tütenk & Mayda (2025).[200]
- Evidence from the study of a mandible of Hippopotamus antiquus from the Middle Pleistocene strata from Mosbach (Germany) and other Pleistocene specimens, interpreted as indicative of decrease in body size in Middle Pleistocene H. antiquus compared to Early Pleistocene specimens, is presented by Martino et al. (2025).[201]
- Martino et al. (2025) identify a mandible of the hippopotamus from the Amoroso Cave (Sicily, Italy), and interpret the hippopotamid fossil record from Sicily as indicative of presence of two taxa during the Pleistocene (the hippopotamus and Hippopotamus pentlandi).[202]
- Bouaziz et al. (2025) study the morphology of the anterior teeth of Indohyus indirae, and interpret the studied teeth as forming a grasping device used to capture preys, similar to teeth of stem cetaceans.[203]
Carnivorans
Carnivoran research
- Evidence from the study of extant and extinct carnivorans, indicating of the morphology of the mandible is correlated with functional ecology in carnivorans, is presented by Salcido & Polly (2025).[214]
- Castellanos (2025) studies the diversity of North American carnivorans adapted to different types of hunting during the Eocene and Oligocene, and reports evidence of increase of proportion of ambush predators during the early Oligocene, and of cursorial predators during the Arikareean.[215]
- A study on the ecology of Pliocene carnivorans from the Hadar Formation (Ethiopia), based on data from carbon and oxygen isotope composition of tooth enamel, is published by Robinson et al. (2025), who find evidence of only limited partitioning of dietary niches of Homotherium and Crocuta venustula.[216]
- A study on the composition of the early Pleistocene carnivoran assemblage from Chlum 4S (Czech Republic) is published by Marciszak & Wagner (2025).[217]
- Le Verger et al. (2025) describe the anatomy of the skull of Cynodictis lacustris.[218]
- Tseng & Wang (2025) describe new fossil material of canids from the Miocene Monarch Mill Formation (Nevada, United States), providing evidence of presence of Cynarctus cf. C. saxatilis and Paracynarctus kelloggi in the Eastgate Local Fauna.[219]
- Lopezalles (2025) provides body mass estimates for the dire wolf, Hesperocyon gregarius and Phlaocyon multicuspus inferred from 3D geometric morphometrics of their limb bones.[220]
- A study on the anatomy and affinities of Eucyon monticinensis, based on data from a new specimen from the Miocene strata from Verduno (Italy), is published by Azzarà et al. (2025), who interpret Eucyon debonisi as a junior synonym of E. monticinensis.[221]
- Peri et al. (2025) simulate the bite of Eucyon davisi, and interpret their finding as consistent with ecology similar to those of extant members of the genus Lupulella.[222]
- Ruiz et al. (2025) compare the morphology of Speothos pacivorus and the extant bush dog, and support the classification of the two species as distinct.[223]
- Hill et al. (2025) describe new fossil material of the dire wolf from two localities in southwestern Iowa and revise the dire wolf material from the Peccary Cave in Arkansas; the authors also revise Canis mississippiensis and interpret it as a junior synonym of the wolf.[224]
- Runge et al. (2025) identify two permafrost-preserved Pleistocene canids from Tumat (Russia) as littermates, and report evidence of their diverse diet that included woolly rhinoceros, but find no evidence linking the studied canids to human activities.[225]
- A study on mitogenomes of specimens of Arctodus simus is published by Salis et al. (2025), who find no evidence of genetic differences compatible with the previously proposed subspecies, but report probable evidence of sexual dimorphism.[226]
- Marciszak et al. (2025) document the presence of fossil material of two bear taxa in the Pleistocene strata from the Tunel Wielki cave (Poland), including abundant fossils of Ursus deningeri hercynicus and fossil material of Ursus arctos taubachensis which might represent one of the earliest records of this taxon from Europe.[227]
- Fossil material of the youngest European member of the genus Promephitis reported to date is described from the Pliocene (Ruscinian–Villafranchian) strata from the Lucești locality (Moldova) by Araslanov et al. (2025).[228]
- Revision of the fossil material of mustelids from the Early Pleistocene site of Schernfeld (Germany) is published by Marciszak & Rössner (2025).[229]
- Adrian et al. (2025) study the morphology of limb elements of Siamogale melilutra, interpreted as consistent with behaviors similar to those of extant members of the genus Aonyx.[230]
- New fossil material of Lutra simplicidens is described from the Pleistocene strata from the Corton site (United Kingdom) and Żabia Cave (Poland) by Marciszak & Bower (2025).[231]
- New information on the anatomy of Monachopsis pontica, based on the study of new fossil material from the Miocene localities in Crimea, is provided by Otriazhyi et al. (2025).[232]
- Paparizos et al. (2025) describe new fossil material of Hyaenictis graeca from the Miocene strata in Greece and revise fossils attributed to this species in earlier studies.[233]
- Salari et al. (2025) describe new fossil remains of cave hyenas from Grotta Guattari (Lazio, Italy), including some of the largest specimens from Western Europe reported to date.[234]
- Sotnikova & Sizov (2025) describe fossil material of Amphimachairodus horribilis from the Miocene (Turolian) strata of the Khyargas Nuur Formation, representing the first record of the species from Mongolia, interpret Amphimachairodus irtyshensis as a taxon distinct from A. horribilis, and consider both A. horribilis and A. irtyshensis to be possible close relatives of Adeilosmilus kabir.[235]
- A study on the microstructure of hairs of a frozen mummy of a cub of Homotherium latidens described by Lopatin et al. (2024)[236] is published by Chernova, Klimovsky & Protopopov (2025).[237]
- Isolated teeth interpreted as belonging to a dwarf form of Megantereon, possibly distinct from known species within this genus, are described from the Pleistocene strata from Java (Indonesia) by Jiangzuo et al. (2025).[238]
- A study on feeding behavior of specimens of Smilodon gracilis and Smilodon fatalis from Florida, as indicated by their tooth wear, is published by Pardo-Judd & DeSantis (2025), who interpret the studied species as generalist predators throughout the Pleistocene, with differences in the diet of S. gracilis during glacial and interglacial periods.[239]
- Fossil material of Smilodon fatalis representing the southernmost record of the species reported to date is described from the Lujanian Dolores Formation (Uruguay) by Manzuetti et al. (2025).[240]
- The first well-documented and preserved fossil material of Lynx issiodorensis from northeastern Caucasus is described from the Pleistocene strata from the Muhkai 2 site (Dagestan, Russia) by Lyubimov, Iltsevich & Sablin (2025).[241]
- Jimenez et al. (2025) study the age of members of the late Pleistocene Iberian lynx populations from the Terrasses de la Riera dels Canyars and Cova del Gegant sites (Spain), reporting evidence of two distinct mortality profiles, and interpret their findings as consistent with the idea that different populations of the Iberian lynx were adapted to different regional settings.[242]
- Koufos et al. (2025) describe feline fossil material from the Pleistocene strata from the Dafnero-3 site, including fossil material of Lynx issiodorensis and the first record of Puma pardoides from Greece.[243]
- Prat-Vericat et al. (2025) describe fossil material of leopards from the Pleistocene strata from the Eastern Pyrenean sites of Grotte de la Carrière (France), Cova 120, Cova s' Espasa and Tut de Fustanyà (Spain), and report evidence of increase of body mass of the studied leopards throughout the Pleistocene, reduced sexual dimorphism compared to modern leopards, and anatomical convergences with snow leopards.[244]
- Jiangzuo et al. (2025) describe a skull of Panthera spelaea from the Pleistocene strata of the Salawusu Formation in northern China, belonging to an individual larger than members of the Beringian subspecies Panthera spelaea vereshchagini.[245]
Chiropterans
Eulipotyphlans
Eulipotyphlan research
- Furió et al. (2025) reinterpret purported treeshrew Sivatupaia ramnagarensis as more likely to be a white-toothed shrew of uncertain generic placement.[252]
- An almost complete skull of Asoriculus gibberodon is described from the Pliocene strata from the Jradzor site (Armenia) by Bert et al. (2025), who interpret the anatomy of the studied specimen as closer to the anatomy of skull of terrestrial shrews rather than semi-aquatic taxa.[253]
- Cailleux et al. (2025) describe new fossil material of Miocene hedgehogs from the Kohfidisch site (Austria), and interpret the composition of the studied assemblage as consistent with spread of a few large hedgehog forms throughout Europe during the Turolian.[254]
Perissodactyls
Perissodactyl research
- Evidence indicating that Eocene lophiodontids from southern France were folivores and browsers rather than frugivores, as well as indicative of adaptation of Lophiodon lautricense to eating harder and more abrasive food compared to earlier lophiodontids, is presented by Hullot et al. (2025).[257]
- A study on changes of proportion of limb bones of Moropus elatus during their growth is published by Potter, Prothero & Welsh (2025).[258]
- Pandolfi et al. (2025) describe new fossil material of Tapirus priscus from the Vallesian strata of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Spain), providing new information on the anatomy of members of the species and extending its known chronostratigraphic range in Western Europe.[259]
- Li et al. (2025) report the discovery of postcranial skeletal elements of Paraceratherium huangheense from the Oligocene Xianshuihe Formation (China).[260]
- A study on the growth of limb bones of Menoceras arikarense and Teleoceras proterum is published by Santos et al. (2025).[261]
- Paterson et al. (2025) recover partial sequences of enamel proteins of a member of the genus Epiaceratherium from the Miocene strata of the Haughton Formation (Nunavut, Canada), and recover the studied specimen as belonging to a rhinocerotid lineage that diverged before the Rhinocerotinae–Elasmotheriinae split.[262]
- Purported tooth fragments of Brachypotherium sp. from the late Miocene strata in Japan is reinterpreted as fossil material of an indeterminate member of Aceratheriinae by Handa & Taru (2025).[263]
- Evidence from the study of carbon, oxygen and strontium isotope composition of tooth enamel of Teleoceras major from the Miocene Ashfall Fossil Beds (Nebraska, United States), interpret as indicative of limited mobility of the studied rhinocerotids, is presented by Ward, Crowley & Secord (2025).[264]
- A study on the ecology of Equus neogeus and Hippidion principale from the Argentine Pampas is published by Bellinzoni, Valenzuela & Prado (2025), who report evidence of greater dietary flexibility of E. neogeus and greater vulnerability of H. principale to environmental changes.[265]
- Running Horse Collin et al. (2025) report evidence indicating that horses from Alaska and northern Yukon repeatedly crossed Bering land bridge during the last glacial interval, and that climate and environmental changes during the late Pleistocene restricted mobility and food availability for American horses, impeding their population growth.[266]
- Evidence from the study of genomic data from remains of horses living in the Iberian Peninsula throughout the last 26,800 years, indicative of presence of a local wild horse lineage that lasted until Late Iron Age, is presented by Lira Garrido et al. (2025).[267]
Other laurasiatherians
Miscellaneous laurasiatherian research
- Zack, Rose & O'Leary (2025) describe new fossil material of Wyolestes iglesius from the Las Tetas de Cabra Formation (Mexico), W. apheles from the Willwood Formation and W. dioctes from the Wasatch Formation (Wyoming, United States), and study the phylogenetic affinities of the genus Wyolestes, recovering it as a member of Hyaenodonta.[272]
- Evidence from the study of tooth wear of Dissacus praenuntius, interpreted as indicative of a dietary shift involving more bone consumption across the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum, is presented by Schwartz, DeSantis & Scott (2025).[273]
- Asai et al. (2025) describe new fossil material of desmostylians from the Tonokita Formation, providing evidence of co-occurrence of members of the genera Neoparadoxia and Paleoparadoxia in Japan during the middle Miocene, and study the diversity patterns of desmostylians throughout their evolutionary history.[274]
- Mulcahy, Constenius & Beard (2025) report the first discovery of fossil material of a uintathere from the Kishenehn Formation (Montana, United States), representing the northernmost record of the group in North America reported to date.[275]
- Del Campo, Chimento & Agnolín (2025) describe a calcaneus of an indeterminate member of Panperissodactyla and a part of a humerus of an indeterminate eutherian with similarities to bones of archaic ungulates (both from the Paleocene Salamanca Formation, Argentina), providing evidence of early evolution of ungulates in South America.[276]
- New didolodontid and litopterns fossil material, including the most complete mandibular fragment of Didolodus magnus recovered to date, is described from the Eocene Sarmiento Formation (Argentina) by Vera, Folino & Migliaro (2025).[277]
- A study on the morphology of litoptern hindlimbs, providing evidence of similarities to rodents and even-toed ungulates and evidence of different adaptations for locomotion in macraucheniids and proterotheriids, is published by Lorente, Schmidt & Croft (2025).[278]
- Vera, Romano Muñoz & Krapovickas (2025) describe proterotheriid tracks from the Miocene strata of the Toro Negro and Huayquerías formations (Argentina), preserving evidence of coordinated group movement at the Toro Negro tracksite interpreted by the authors as consistent with social behavior and evidence of unrestricted group movement at the Huayquerías tracksite, and name a new ichnotaxon Okana andina.[279]
- A study on toxodontid fossils from the Ribeira of Iguape Valley (Brazil) is published by Costa, Chahud & Okumura (2025), who identify a tooth likely representing the southernmost record of Mixotoxodon larensis reported to date, and identify cut marks on bones of Toxodon platensis.[280]
- Medina-González & Moreno (2025) study adaptations for digging in the forelimb of Caraguatypotherium munozi, and report evidence of forelimb configurations that were functionally distinct from those of extant digging mammals.[281]
- New fossil material of Brachyhyops neimongolensis and the first fossil material of Eomoropus major from the Erlian Basin reported to date is described from the Eocene Shara Murun Formation (China) by Bai et al. (2025).[282]
- A study on the ecology of Oligocene-Miocene ungulates from Oregon is published by Reuter et al. (2025), who report evidence of partitioning of food resources by the studied ungulates, and evidence of a shift to consumption of isotopically similar C3 plants after Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum.[283]
- Evidence from the study of tooth enamel of Miocene antilocaprids, camelids and equids from the Dove Spring Formation, indicating that the studied ungulates selectively consumed C3 plants throughout the period of 8.5 million years in spite of expansion of C4 vegetation, is presented by Hardy et al. (2025).[284]
- Evidence from the study of sedimentary ancient DNA, indicative of changes of distribution of marine mammals from northern Greenland throughout the Holocene, is presented by Schreiber et al. (2025).[285]
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Xenarthrans
Summarize
Perspective
Cingulatans
Cingulatan research
- A study on the morphology of the osteoderms of Quaternary pampatheriids and a revision of their taxonomy is published by Ferreira et al. (2025)[287]
- A probable pampatheriid tooth is described from the Oligocene strata in Peru by Pujos et al. (2025), substantiating the presence of pampatheriids in western Amazonia during the Oligocene.[288]
- New evidence of trauma-induced alterations of the body armor of glyptodont specimens is presented by Lima, Porpino & Ribeiro (2025).[289]
- Magoulick et al. (2025) determine that environmental conditions in Central America during the Plio-Pleistocene enabled dispersal of Glyptotherium from South America to North America, and possibly also its migration back to South America during the Rancholabrean.[290]
- Fossil material of Pucatherium parvum, representing the first finding of a mammal from the Eocene Río Nío Formation (Argentina), is described by Gaudioso et al. (2025).[291]
- Barasoain et al. (2025) identify fossil material of euphractine and dasypodid armadillos from the late Pleistocene strata of the Río Bermejo Formation (Formosa Province, Argentina), providing evidence of presence of taxa previously thought to have retreated to northern areas during the Marine Isotope Stage 2.[292]
Pilosans
Pilosan research
- Boscaini et al. (2025) study the evolution of ground sloths and its drivers, and interpret rapid extinction of ground sloths as likely related to human-driven factors.[293]
- Fariña et al. (2025) identify an indentation in a calcaneus of a 33,000-year-old specimen of Lestodon armatus from the Arroyo del Vizcaíno site (Uruguay), interpreted as likely produced by a wooden shaft with an attached conical tip, and thus as likely resulting from human agency.[294]
- Evidence from the study of remains of strontium isotope composition of remains of Lestodon armatus from six localities in Uruguay, interpreted as indicative of limited movement and ruling out extensive seasonal migrations, is presented by Varela & Fariña (2025).[295]
- New megatherioid ground sloth specimen, possibly representing a new taxon, is described from the Miocene strata of the La Venta site (Colombia) by Miño-Boilini et al. (2025).[296]
- Bravo Cuevas, Villanueva Amadoz & Espinosa Ortiz (2025) describe fossil material of a member of the genus Megalonyx from the Blancan strata from the Los Hornitos locality in Sonora, representing the first record of the genus from the Pliocene of Mexico.[297]
- Vázquez et al. (2025) describe a lower jaw of a member of the genus Nothrotheriops from the Arroyo Cobos site (Mexico), and interpret the tooth wear of the studied specimen as indicating that the individual was a mixed feeder with the diet that involved both browsing and grazing.[298]
- McDonald & Ruddell (2025) report the first discovery of fossil material of a member of the genus Nothrotheriops from the central Mississippi River drainage in Arkansas (United States), providing a connection between records of Nothrotheriops from Florida and those from Mexico and southwestern United States.[299]
- Potter & Prothero (2025) report possible evidence of presence of sexual dimorphism in the skulls of Nothrotheriops shastensis.[300]
- Evidence interpreted as indicating that megathere ground sloths had lower body temperatures than reported in other large terrestrial mammals, as well as indicative of varied fur coverage depending on the environment, is presented by Deak et al. (2025).[301]
- Straulino Mainou et al. (2025) study diagenetic features of a specimen of Megatherium from the Pleistocene strata from the Quebrada Maní 35/7 site (Chile), and study the impact of environmental changes since the death of this individual on the preservation of its remains.[302]
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Other eutherians
Miscellaneous eutherian research
- Chen et al. (2025) describe new fossil material of Zhangolestes jilinensis from the Upper Cretaceous Quantou Formation (Jilin, China), possibly belonging to the same individual as the holotype lower jaw, and interpret the additional mandibular fragment originally included in this species as belonging to a different individual, and possibly to a different eutherian taxon.[304]
- A study on the bone histology and life history of Conoryctes comma, providing evidence of growth rates similar to those of extant placentals of comparable size, is published by Funston et al. (2025).[305]
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Metatherians
Summarize
Perspective
Metatherian research
- Carneiro, Bampi & Lages (2025) study the morphology and occlusion of the molars of Xenocynus crypticus, and interpret their findings as supporting the taxonomic validity of the studied species.[312]
- A study on the braincase endocasts of ten species of sparassodonts is published by Gaillard et al. (2025), who report evidence of similarity of neuroanatomy of the studied species (with exception of Thylacosmilus atrox) to that of extant marsupials.[313]
- Chornogubsky et al. (2025) study the body mass of members of the family Polydolopidae, providing evidence of increase of body size over time, but not evidence that Bergmann's rule applied to members of the group.[314]
- A study on tooth wear in extant and fossil kangaroos is published by Arman, Gully & Prideaux (2025), who interpret their findings as indicating that Pleistocene kangaroos had more generalist diets than indicated by the anatomy of their skull and teeth, and likely indicating that extinctions of Pleistocene kangaroos were not driven by climate and environmental changes.[315]
- Evidence from the study of the strontium isotope composition of tooth enamel of members of the genus Protemnodon from Mt Etna caves (Queensland, Australia), indicative of limited foraging ranges of the studied specimens, is presented by Laurikainen Gaete et al. (2025).[316]
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Monotremes
Monotreme research
- Hand et al. (2025) report evidence of adaptations to semiaquatic lifestyle in the microstructure of the humerus of Kryoryctes cadburyi.[317]
Other mammals
Summarize
Perspective
Other mammalian research
- Skutschas et al. (2025) identify tooth marks on the maxilla of Kundurosaurus nagornyi, interpreted as probable evidence of extensive gnawing by multituberculates.[321]
- Lopatin & Averianov (2025) describe partial humerus of a multituberculate from the Gurilin Tsav locality (Nemegt Formation; Mongolia), possibly belonging to a member of the genus Buginbaatar, sharing similarities with the humerus of Meniscoessus robustus from the Hell Creek Formation and potentially supporting the assignment of Buginbaatar to the family Cimolomyidae.[322]
- Burger (2025) reports evidence of association of Eocene multituberculates from North America with forests dominated by Metasequoia and Glyptostrobus, and interprets the decline of multituberculates as more likely linked to decline of such forests than to competition with rodents.[323]
- New fossil material of Peligrotherium tropicalis, providing new information on dentition of members of this species, is described from the Paleocene Salamanca Formation (Argentina) by Rougier et al. (2025).[324]
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General mammalian research
- Review of studies on the early evolution of the mammalian skull anatomy and its impact on the mammalian feeding efficiency and hearing ability is published by Schultz (2025).[325]
- Janis et al. (2025) study postcranial remains of latest Cretaceous and earliest Paleogene therian mammals from Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota (United States) and Alberta (Canada), and interpret the studied fossils as indicative of a shift of the preference of therians from arboreal to terrestrial habitats towards the end of the Cretaceous.[326]
- Pinkert et al. (2025) study the distribution of extant burrowing and non-burrowing terrestrial mammals and the timing or origination of burrowing mammal lineages, find that the diversity of burrowing lineages peaked during the Cretaceous-Paleogene transition, and argue that burrowing behavior promoted survival of mammals during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.[327]
- Evidence from the study of morphology, puncture performance and breakage resistance of saber teeth, interpreted as indicating that repeated evolution of saber teeth in mammalian carnivores is a result of selection for functionally optimal morphology, is presented by Pollock et al. (2025).[328]
- Pollock & Anderson (2025) review the studies of functional biomechanics of pointed teeth and study the morphological diversity of teeth of thylacosmilids, nimravids and felids, reporting evidence of morphological diversity of saber teeth that was likely related to functional diversity.[329]
- Ugarte, Nascimento & Pires (2025) study the distribution and completeness of the fossil record of Cenozoic mammals from South America, as well as its implications for the knowledge of the evolution of South American mammals.[330]
- Blanco et al. (2025) report evidence of prolonged ecological stability of continental assemblages of proboscideans, odd-toed ungulates and even-toed ungulates during the Cenozoic, interrupted by two major reorganizations related to the formation of a land bridge between Eurasia and Africa 21 million years ago and to aridification and expansion of C4-dominated grasslands around 10 million years ago.[331]
- Tabuce et al. (2025) report the discovery of a new mammalian fauna from Albas (France), providing evidence that metatherians, "creodonts", rodents and paromomyids dispersed into Europe before the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum, possibly during the pre-onset excursion preceding PETM.[332]
- Lihoreau et al. (2025) describe fossil material of Ypresian mammals from three new localities in the south of France, providing new information on the biochronology of early Paleogene European mammals.[333]
- Montheil et al. (2025) provide new age estimates for the Eocene sites Çamili Mezra, Ciçekdagi and Bultu-Zile, indicating an early Lutetian minimum age for the endemic mammal fauna of Balkanatolia.[334]
- A study on the diversity dynamics of South American mammals during the Paleogene, providing evidence of a diversity decline from the middle Eocene followed by a taxonomic turnover in the Oligocene which were likely related to environmental changes, is published by Buffan et al. (2025).[335]
- A study on the composition and age of the early Miocene mammal assemblage from the Maysville Local Fauna (Belgrade Formation; North Carolina, United States) is published by MacFadden et al. (2025).[336]
- A study on the longevity of mammal species from the southern cone of South America from late Miocene to early Pleistocene is published by Prevosti et al. (2025).[337]
- Green et al. (2025) recover small enamel proteomes from fossil remains of proboscideans (including Prodeinotherium hobleyi, Zygolophodon sp., an indeterminate gomphothere and Palaeoloxodon recki), Arsinoitherium, rhinocerotids, anthracotheriids and hippopotamids from sites in the Turkana Basin ranging from the Oligocene to Pleistocene.[338]
- Evidence of emergence of open savanna landscapes in northern China beginning in the late early Miocene, and of adaptation of large mammalian herbivores to the new savanna habitats, is presented by Li et al. (2025).[339]
- Konidaris et al. (2025) study the composition of the mammalian assemblage from the new Turolian vertebrate locality Kayaca (Beyağaç Basin, Turkey), reporting evidence of similarities with the faunas from Samos.[340]
- Mulè et al. (2025) revise fossil material of large mammals from Le Riège and Saint-Palais localities (France), and interpret the studied fossils as evidence of presence of two distinct mammalian assemblages (a Pliocene one and a Pleistocene one).[341]
- A study on mammalian communities from western North America across the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition is published by Shupinski et al. (2025), who report that the Great American Interchange and environmental changes related to glaciation did not result in significant changes of the structure of the studied communities, in spite of changes of their composition.[342]
- Motta & Quental (2025) study the composition of mammalian assemblages from North and South America after the Great American Interchange, report that the assemblages closer to the point of entrance in both continents had higher proportion of immigrant taxa, and find that this relationship became weaker in South America during the later stages of the Pleistocene but remained strong in North America.[343]
- Evidence from the study of Plio-Pleistocene mammal communities from Esquina Blanca (Uquía Formation, Argentina), Laetoli (Tanzania) and Thum Wimam Nakin (Thailand), indicating that niche exploitation profiles of tropical mammal communities can be used to determine past climate conditions of their environment, is presented by Kovarovic & Lintulaakso (2025).[344]
- Review of the history of reporting of large mammals from the cave sites from the Cradle of Humankind (South Africa), their biochronology and their implications for paleoenvironmental reconstructions is published by Malherbe et al. (2025).[345]
- Linchamps et al. (2025) study the composition of the assemblage of small mammals from the Pleistocene strata of the Lower Bank of Member 1 at the Swartkrans cave site (South Africa), and interpret the studied fossils as indicative of environment dominated by grassland and bushland habitats, with components of forest and woodland habitats.[346]
- Bai et al. (2025) study the composition of Pleistocene mammalian faunas from parts of China affected by summer monsoons, and interpret the studied faunas as providing information on Pleistocene forest and steppe dynamics.[347]
- Hu et al. (2025) report the discovery of new fossil material of Pleistocene mammals from the Dayakou pit (Chongqing, China), including first records of Ailuropoda melanoleuca wulingshanensis, Tapirus sinensis and Leptobos sp. in the Yanjinggou area, and providing new information on changes of mammal faunas from south China during the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition.[348]
- Berghuis et al. (2025) describe a vertebrate assemblage (including mammals) from a subsea site in the Madura Strait off the coast of Surabaya, living in the now-submerged part of Sundaland during the Middle Pleistocene, and report differences in the composition of this assemblage compared to the vertebrate assemblage from Ngandong (Java, Indonesia), including evidence of survival of Duboisia santeng, Epileptobos groeneveldtii and Axis lydekkeri in Java until the end of the Middle Pleistocene;[349] Berghuis et al. (2025) describe two cranial fragments of Homo erectus from this site,[350] while Berghuis et al. (2025) report evidence from the study of ruminant remains from the site indicative of selective hunting of prime adult prey by hominins, as well as of marrow processing by hominins.[351]
- A study on the composition the Pleistocene mammalian assemblage from the Upper Yana basin (Sakha Republic, Russia) is published by Maschenko, Lebedev & Voskresenskaya (2025).[352]
- Jacobs et al. (2025) reconstruct the chronology of occupation of Denisova Cave by hominins and other mammals on the basis of the study of mitochondrial DNA, skeletal remains and artefacts.[353]
- Oertle et al. (2025) use paleoproteomic techniques to identify bone fragments from the Pleistocene strata from Grotta di Castelcivita (southern Italy), and report the identification of canid, Ursus sp. and rhinoceros material from deeper Mousterian deposits from the site than earlier known records, extending known record of presence of these mammals in the region.[354]
- Gelabert et al. (2025) study sedimentary ancient DNA from the El Mirón Cave (Spain), reporting evidence of presence of 28 taxa (humans, 21 herbivores and 6 carnivores), evidence of longer survival of leopards and hyenas in the Iberian Peninsula than indicated by fossil record, and evidence of the presence of a stable human population in the region of the cave during and after the Last Glacial Maximum.[355]
- Syverson & Prothero (2025) study changes of the size or robustness of mammals from the La Brea Tar Pits, and find evidence of previously undetected changes in the studied taxa, but report no evidence of a clear relationship between those changes and changes in temperature.[356]
- Evidence from the study of large mammal remains from a hyena den from the Besaansklip site (South Africa), indicative of increased moisture increased and possible expansion of grassy vegetation in the Cape Floristic Region during the Late Glacial Period, is presented by Sokolowski et al. (2025).[357]
- Bellinzoni et al. (2025) identify a new mammalian assemblage from the Salto de Piedra paleontological locality, and report evidence of temporal overlap of index taxa used to define Quaternary biozones in the Argentine Pampas.[358]
- Fernández-Monescillo et al. (2025) study trace found on remains of Mesotherium cristatum and an indeterminate camelid from the Quaternary strata from the Corralito fossil site (Argentina), and name two new ichnotaxa: Corralitoichnus conicetensis, interpreted as traces of rodent incisors possibly produced by a tuco-tuco, and Katagmichnus myelus, interpreted as bite traces produced by a medium–large carnivoran that broke bones to access the bone narrow.[359]
- McGrath et al. (2025) study worked bone objects from late Paleolithic sites from the Bay of Biscay area, reporting evidence indicating that Magdalenian peoples were utilizing the remains of at least five species of large whales, and evidence of previously undocumented diversity of whales at this time period in the studied area.[360]
- Faria et al. (2025) determine the age of teeth of extinct members of mammalian megafauna from Itapipoca and the Rio Miranda valley in the Brazilian Intertropical Region, and report evidence of survival of the studied mammals until the middle and late Holocene, including survival of Palaeolama major and Xenorhinotherium bahiense until approximately 3500 years Before Present.[361]
- Lemoine et al. (2025) study the relationships between traits of late Pleistocene and Holocene mammals and their vulnerability to extinction, and find evidence of greater resistance to extinction of Paleotropical species and their relatives on other continents, possibly resulting from extinctions before the late Pleistocene, driven by early hominins, filtering out Paleotropical species with vulnerable traits.[362]
- Valenzuela-Toro, Viglino & Loch (2025) review publications on fossil aquatic mammals from Latin America and their citation trends from 1990 to 2022, and find that Latin American and women researchers were underrepresented in the analyzed studies compared to Global North-based researchers and men, and that studies with a higher proportion Latin American authors and those published in languages other than English had lower citation rates.[363]
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References
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