Megaherbivores -rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and proboscideans (elephants, mammoths, etc.) – are key players in ecosystems and excellent indicators of past environmental changes. Their study is particularly relevant for the Pliocene-Pleistocene (~5–1 Ma), a period marked by major climatic fluctuations, faunal turnovers, and the arrival of the first humans in Europe. The Languedoc region occupies a central place in this history thanks to emblematic fossil sites, such as Montpellier, Durfort, and Roussillon, which were studied from the early 19th century and played a key role in the beginnings of French paleontology.
The aim of this PhD is to synthesize the fossil material recovered in the region and preserved in the University’s collections. Although some of these collections are old, much of the material remains unpublished. My work will therefore focus on describing and comparing these fossils to clarify their taxonomic assignment, assess the composition and evolution of the assemblages, and better understand the biogeographic history of these large mammals. Beyond the scientific aspect, this project also seeks to contribute to the valorization of these historic collections, which are valuable witnesses to the early days of French paleontology.