Actualistic taphonomic study of the rodents digested by the Achala culpeo fox (<i>Lycalopex</i><i>culpaeus</i><i>smithersi</i>) in the highlands of central Argentina

We present the first actualistic study of the rodents consumed by the South American fox Lycalopex culpaeus smithersi (Achala culpeo fox), a subspecies of the culpeo fox that is endemic to the highlands of central Argentina. We provide a taphonomic characterization of this canid based on digested micromammal bones, and compare it to other carnivores. We studied over 1000 bones derived from 83 scats collected in Quebrada del Condorito National Park, Córdoba province, Argentina, corresponding to caviomorph and myomorph rodents. Galea leucoblephara was the main prey (59.8% MNI, 93.1% biomass). Average relative abundance for the total assemblage was 26.7. Cranial and, to a lesser extent, proximal limb bones were the most abundant elements. A high degree of breakage was observed in cranial elements and, to a lesser extent, in limb bones. A high proportion of heavy and extreme digestion was inferred, while some elements bear light or no digestion traces at all. Overall, the Achala culpeo fox fits best with other mammalian carnivores in the category of extreme modification, and shows types and proportions of taphonomic attributes similar to other South American mammalian predators. These results contribute to the understanding of regional taphonomic processes and of digestive modifications by Lycalopex foxes generally, and are thus relevant to interpreting the presence of micromammal remains in the archaeological and palaeontological records and the impact of these foxes upon their formation.