Der „Mageninhalt“ von Propalaeotherium isselanum aus dem Geiseltal (Sachsen-Anhalt, Deutschland)

Abstract

Hellmund, M.; Wilde, V.: The gut content of Propalaeotherium isselanum from the Geiseltal (Saxony- Anhalt, Germany). – Hercynia N. F. 42 (2009): 167–175.A sample of browncoal which is labelled as “stomach content” of a primeval horse was recently discovered in the collections of the Geiseltalmuseum in Halle (Saale). Together with four historic microscopical slides (three thin-sections and a strew mount) which have probably been prepared from the same sample, it may clearly be attributed to the unique and renowned articulated specimen of Propalaeotherium isselanum which was recovered from the upper Middle Eocene („Obere Mittelkohle“ = MP 13) of the former opencast mine “Cecilie IV” in the central Geiseltal mining district during excavations in the early 1930s. The newly accessible material is compared to several records of gut contents of Propalaeotherium from the Middle Eocene (MP 11) oilshale of Messel near Darmstadt, indicating a more or less comparable but individually variable diet in contrast to former assumptions. This study once more underlines the great importance of historic collections, especially when the respective localities are no longer available for recollecting.