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The present paper deals with the ecomorphological characteristics of two sympatric species of ictitheres: Ictitherium viverrinum Roth & Wagner, 1854 and Hyaenictitherium wongii (Zdansky, 1924) from the Late Miocene of the Eastern Mediterranean. These two species represent different taxonomic groups with allegedly distinct ecological roles. The values of 11 ecomorphological proxies were calculated using cranial and dental elements, in order to make an extensive comparison between them (body mass, bite force, canines' and incisors' bending strength, endocranial volume, relative rostral width, dental mesowear, intercuspid notches and carnassial vs grinding surfaces). The proxies show similar results for both species, pointing out that they had a similar ecological niche in the Late Miocene ecosystems. Carnivorans are usually in the top of the food chain, so the existence of two ecologically similar species in the same spatiotemporal range results in interspecific competition. This explains the geographical distinction of the two species with several localities being dominated by only one of the two (e.g. Samos for Hyaenictitherium Kretzoi, 1938 and Pikermi for Ictitherium Wagner, 1848). The reason for the prevalence of each genus can be associated with their postcranial morphology, as Hyaenictitherium has been proposed to be better adapted to chase hunting, because of its longer limbs, while Ictitherium is characterized by shorter and stouter limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilotherium represents one of the most characteristic rhinocerotid genera during the late Miocene of Eurasia. In Europe, it is restricted to the eastern parts of the continent (Balkan Peninsula and Peri-Pontic region). In total, eight Chilotherium species have been described from European material, with Samos (Greece) representing the type locality of four of them. Herein, the type material of 'Chilotherium wegneri' is revisited. The type cranium is considered lost for the past half-century, but the associated mandible is still housed in the collections of the Geomuseum Münster (Germany). The 'C. wegneri' type mandible is redescribed and, taking into account the original illustration of the type cranium, compared to other chilotheres from Europe and Asia. Accordingly, the previously proposed synonymy of 'C. wegneri' and Chilotherium schlosseri, which was also initially described from the late Miocene of Samos, is further supported. Lastly, an overview of the late Miocene record of Chilotherium in Europe is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes an almost complete cervical region of the fossil ostrich Struthio karatheodoris from the Turolian locality of Kerassia (Euboea, Greece). The material comes from two distinct fossiliferous horizons and consists of twelve cervical vertebrae, ten of which belong to the same individual. These specimens are the first remains of a large flightless bird from Kerassia and represent some of the very few findings of the genus Struthio in the sub-Paratethyan (Balkan-Iranian) bioprovince from the late Miocene. The morphology of the cervical vertebrae implies that the neck of S. karatheodoris had similar biomechanical properties to that of extant ostriches, pointing to similar ecological adaptations, relating to food procurement. However, it probably had a more flexible and stronger neck, which might indicate a somewhat different ecology. Furthermore, considerable intraspecific size and morphological variation of the cervical vertebrae of S. karatheodoris is observed. This signifies that S. karatheodoris was not necessarily larger than S. camelus as previously suspected, but their size ranges in fact overlap significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]