The diet of Myotragus balearicus Bate 1909 (Artiodactyla: Caprinae), an extinct bovid from the Balearic Islands:: evidence from coprolites

Myotragus balearicus Bate 1909 is an artiodactyl Caprinae endemic to the Balcaric Islands which became extract more than 4000 years ago. Coprolites produced by this species have been collected from the excavation of Holocene cave sediments in Cora Estreta (Serra de Tramuntana, Mallorca). The pollen content of several samples of coprolites has been studied in order to determine the diet of Myotragus. Myotragus balearicus from Cova Estreta was a browser, and consumed huge amounts of box, Buxus balearica, a plant known for its high content of steroidal alkaloids. The coprolites are very fine textured, probably due to the result of a very efficient digestive process.