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Rebillard, A, Jannel, A, Marchetti, L, MacDougall, MJ, Hamann, C, Steyer, J-S and Fröbisch, J (2026) Early Permian terrestrial apex predator regurgitalite indicates opportunistic feeding behaviour. Scientific Reports, 16 (1). ISSN 2045-2322
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Abstract
Fossilised digestive remains (bromalites) provide unique insights into extinct animals' behavioural ecology, physiology and diet. We describe fossilised regurgitated stomach content from the early Permian Bromacker locality (Thuringia, Germany) using micro-CT, osteological, chemical and taphonomical analyses. The regurgitalite consists of a compact cluster of 41 bones with a unique taphonomic signature, including sub-articulated, aligned long bones, an irregular overall shape, and low phosphorus contents in the near-bone matrix. The multitaxic elements comprise a maxilla attributed to the captorhinomorph Thuringothyris mahlendorffae, postcranial elements of the bolosaurid Eudibamus cursoris and an unidentified diadectid, along with several unassignable elements, indicating opportunistic feeding behaviour. The regurgitalite size and composition suggest an apex predator as producer, such as the sphenacodontid Dimetrodon teutonis or the varanopid Tambacarnifex unguifalcatus, both known from Bromacker. This specimen represents the geologically oldest terrestrial regurgitalite and reveals novel insights into the feeding behaviours and the trophic network in a late Palaeozoic continental ecosystem.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Animals; Fossils; Predatory Behavior; Feeding Behavior; Germany; Gastrointestinal Contents; X-Ray Microtomography |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QE Geology > QE701 Paleontology |
| Divisions: | Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19) |
| Publisher: | Springer Nature |
| Date of acceptance: | 18 December 2025 |
| Date of first compliant Open Access: | 3 February 2026 |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Feb 2026 10:07 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Feb 2026 10:07 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1038/s41598-025-33381-0 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28032 |
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