Martens, wolverines, skunks and red pandas—Germany was once a paradise for small carnivorans

Eberhard Karls is a professor at the Tbingen University.

The Hammerschmiede fossil site in southern Germany has been reported to be home to at least 20 species of mammal. Since the discovery of the first known ape to walk upright, the site has been a focus of attention. Professor Madelaine Bhme from the University of Tbingen is a member of the current Hammerschmiede team. The study has been published.

The recent excavations, led by Professor Madelaine Bhme, have uncovered an amazing diversity of fossil animals and plants. Many of them were semi-aquatic and lived and hunted on land or in the water. Bhme says that the species were adapted to the forest surrounding the river.

There are various ecological niches.

Among the animals recorded at the site are four species of mammals, two of which are related to today's wolverine. A very well-preserved skull of a marten is one of the most impressive specimen that the first author of the study has. He says that this one will help establish a new group of large extinct martens.

One of the smallest weasels from the site was found by the researchers. The teeth of this species show that they only eat meat. The researchers named it after the Hartmann family who have provided access to the site for all these years.

In Europe's fossil record of over 11 million years ago, wolverines, skunks, and red pandas are expected, but not in such high concentration and variability.

She says that the diversity of small carnivorans at the same site suggests that the environment was thriving at the time. According to an analysis of body mass, feeding and the way in which they moved around, each of the species discovered appears to have assumed a different role in the ecosystems. Kargopoulos said that they were able to avoid competition by using different natural resources.

More information: Nikolaos Kargopoulos et al, The exceptionally high diversity of small carnivorans from the Late Miocene hominid locality of Hammerschmiede (Bavaria, Germany), PLOS ONE (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268968 Journal information: PLoS ONE Provided by Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen