Discovery of Pliocene fossilised termitaries in Chadian vertebate levels: description, identification and palaeoecological implications.

Some sandstony bioconstructions in the shape of a flattened ball have been found in the Chadian Pliocene. These balls have a diameter of about 40 cm a nd have an ellipsoidal shape. They are entirely built of centimetric partit ion-walls. These structures are interpreted as in situ Fossilised subterran ean termitaries. The presence of termitaries brings new elements to the pal aeoecological interpretations of Chadian Australopithecine sites, especiall y in terms of climate and environmental stability. (C) 2000 Academie des sc iences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.