Abstract: For a long time, research about Nihewan Basin vertebrate fossils has focused on the evolution of major taxa and biostratigraphy; in contrast, the study of burial process and population ecology of these fossils is almost absent. Recently, scientific excavation of the Shanshenmiaozui locality provided an opportunity to undertake a taphonomy study in the Nihewan Basin. At this locality, numerous fossils have been recovered and the composition of Shanshenmiaozui (SSMZ) fauna coincides with classical Nihewan fauna belonging to the early Pleistocene. Here we present taphonomic research including statistics of skeletal elements, age profiles and biostratinomy processes of Canis chihliensis. This work shows that different skeletal elements have inconsistent preservation considering palaeoenvironmental contexts and spatial distribution of the bones. The age of these canids is estimated by two methods: tooth wear and pulp cavity measurements. Both of these approaches support an older dominant population, with a death age profile corresponding to attritional mortality. Some pathological phenomena have also been observed suggesting death by senility and disease. There is also information about the relationship of injured and weak individuals in this sample of Canis chihliensis. Based on analysis of spatial distribution, skeleton articulation, bone weathering and water modification, the accumulation of the Shanshenmiaozui canids can be classified as a type of rapid autochthonous distribution with some modification by lake indicators.

Key words: Canis chihliensis; Taphonomy; Shanshenmiaozui; Nihewan; Early Pleistocene