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.

中文翻译：

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对阿根廷中部高地的 Achala culpeo 狐狸 (Lycalopex culpaeus smithersi) 消化的啮齿动物进行现实挖掘研究

我们对南美狐狸Lycalopex culpaeus smithersi (Achala culpeo fox)食用的啮齿动物进行了第一次实际研究，这是阿根廷中部高地特有的 culpeo 狐狸的一个亚种。我们根据消化的微型哺乳动物骨骼提供了这种犬科动物的埋藏学特征，并将其与其他食肉动物进行了比较。我们研究了来自阿根廷科尔多瓦省 Quebrada del Condorito 国家公园收集的 83 块粪便的 1000 多块骨头，这些骨头对应于 caviomorph 和 myomorph 啮齿动物。Galea leucoblephara是主要猎物（59.8% MNI，93.1% 生物量）。总组合的平均相对丰度为 26.7。颅骨和在较小程度上，近端四肢骨是最丰富的元素。在颅骨元件中观察到高度断裂，在较小程度上在四肢骨骼中观察到。推断出高比例的重度和极端消化，而一些元素则带有轻微的消化痕迹或根本没有消化痕迹。总体而言，Achala culpeo 狐狸在极端改造类别中最适合与其他哺乳动物食肉动物，并显示出类似于其他南美哺乳动物捕食者的类型和比例。这些结果有助于区域埋藏过程的理解和消化修改Lycalopex 狐狸，因此与解释考古和古生物学记录中微型哺乳动物遗骸的存在以及这些狐狸对其形成的影响有关。