DOCSLIB.ORG

Novitates PUBLISHED by the AMERICAN MUSEUM of NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST at 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Novitates PUBLISHED by the AMERICAN MUSEUM of NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST at 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y AMERICAN MUSEUM Novitates PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10024 Number 2772, pp. 1-49, figs. 1-7, tables 1-5 November 9, 1983 The Origin and Affinities of the South American Condylarthra and Early Tertiary Litopterna (Mammalia) RICHARD L. CIFELLII ABSTRACT A previously unknown genus and species of Proectocion (including Oxybunotherium), previ- a primitive litoptem from the late Paleocene ously referred to the Didolodontidae, is placed in (Riochican) of Itaborai, Brazil, is described, and the advanced litoptern family Adianthidae. three previously described didolodontid and li- An ancestral morphotype for the Litoptema and toptern species from Itaborai are referred to new Didolodontidae is constructed on the basis oftheir genera. Comparative analysis of the dentition of known morphology and by comparison with didolodontids and primitive Litoptema suggests a primitive oxyclaenine arctocyonids such as Pro- number of revisions in their taxonomy. The two tungulatum. Relevant North American ungulate Itaborai didolodonts appear to be more closely families (Arctocyonidae, Hyopsodontidae, Phen- related to each other than to Patagonian forms; acodontidae, Periptychidae) are briefly reviewed Protolipterna, new genus, Miguelsoria, new genus, and their members compared with this hypothet- ?and Asmithwoodwardia are placed in the Litop- ical ancestor. The primitive litoptern/didolodont terna in a new family, Protolipternidae. Aniso- morphotype is closely comparable to and shares lambda (including Ricardolydekkeria and Joseph- derived conditions with Torrejonian mioclaenine oleidya) and allies seem to be related to true hyopsodonts such as Litaletes. Such an exclusive proterotheriids, and are placed in the Proterotheri- relationship implies that the indigenous South idae in a new subfamily, Anisolambdinae, whereas American ungulate orders may not represent a the Polymorphinae (including only the type genus) strictly monophyletic unit with respect to other appears to be related to the Macraucheniidae. Eutheria. INTRODUCTION The pre-Oligocene Litopterna and their and Simpson, consists ofjaw fragments and presumed allies, the didolodontid condy- isolated teeth from Patagonia. Because of its larths, are poorly known and little under- age, geographic location, and faunal repre- stood. Most of their early record, brought to sentation, the faunule from Sao Jose de Ita- light largely through the efforts of Ameghino borai, Brazil, is extremely important to in- 1 Student, Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History. Copyright © American Museum of Natural History 1983 ISSN 0003-0082 / Price $3.80 2 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 2772 terpretation ofthe origin and early radiations mammals, I am grateful to Drs. M. Mc- of these and other indigenous South Ameri- Kenna, M. Soria, G. Simpson, and L. Mar- can mammals. shall, although they do not necessarily es- Most of the manmmals from Itaborai were pouse my conclusions. Comments and described in a series ofcontributions by Paula criticisms on an earlier draft of this paper Couto (1952a, 1952b, 1952c, 1952d, 1954, were provided by Drs. M. McKenna and F. 1961, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1978a, 1978b, Szalay, and their advice is warmly appreci- 1978c, 1979). Despite considerable ecologic ated. Partial funding for this research was variance with the Patagonian faunas (Paula provided by the Theodore Roosevelt Me- Couto, 1970), a Riochican (late Paleocene) morial Fund, Thomas J. Dee Fund, Walker age is indicated by the presence of Carodnia Johnson Fund, Department of Geological (Paula Couto, 1952a), which occurs in Pat- Sciences, Columbia University, and the So- agonia only in the earliest Riochican faunal ciety of Sigma Xi. zone (Simpson, 1935a). The fossils derive from fissure- and channel-fill argillaceous ABBREVIATIONS marl deposits cut into the Itaborai Forma- a limestone of Late Cretaceous ACM, Pratt Museum, Amherst College, Amherst, tion, probable MA. or early Paleocene age (Francisco and Souza AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, Cunha, 1978), and have been recovered dur- New York, NY. ing the process of commercial limestone DNPM (sometimes cited as DGM), Divisao Na- quarrying. The Itaborai Formation is local, cional de Producao Mineral, Rio de Janeiro, being restricted to a small tectonic basin about Brazil. 25 km. northeast of Niteroi, State of Rio de FMNH, Field Museum of Natural History, Chi- Janeiro, Brazil. Additional material collected cago, IL. since the studies of Paula Couto reveal the MACN, Museo Argentino de Ciencas Naturales presence of a new litoptern species, and de- "Bernardino Rivadavia," Buenos Aires, Argen- tailed with the type and referred tina. comparison MLP, Museo de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina. specimens from Patagonia indicates three MHN, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, previously described species to represent new Paris, France. genera. In the present offering I describe these MNRJ, Museu Nacional de Rio de Janeiro, Rio materials and reevaluate the interrelation- de Janeiro, Brazil. ships and affinities ofthe Didolodontidae and Litopterna. SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ORDER CONDYLARTHRA COPE, 1881a2 FAMILY DIDOLODONTIDAE SCOTT, 1913 For permission to study specimens in their care and help in so doing, I thank Drs. M. Didolodidae Scott, 1913, p. 489. Bunolipternidae Schlosser, 1923, p. 525. Coombs (Amherst College), C. Schaff (Mu- Didolodontidae Simpson, 1934, p. 6. seum of Comparative Zoology), D. Baird (Princeton University), W. Tumbull (Field DIAGNOSIS: Dentition complete and mio- Museum of Natural History), E. Lindsay claenine-like in primitive forms, but a hy- (University of Arizona), R. Emry (United pocone is present on M3. Tarsus, where States National Museum), F. de Souza Cunha known, lacking astragalocuboid contact (se- (Museu Nacional de Rio de Janeiro), D. rial); astragalus with relatively deep body but Campos (Divisao Nacional de Producao Mineral), J. Bonaparte and M. Soria (Museo de Ciencas Naturales "Bernardino 2 This aggregate of primitive ungulates has long been Argentino recognized to be a horizontal or paraphyletic group in Rivadavia") and R. Pascual and M. Bond the formal taxonomic sense, an arrangement not wholly (Museo de La Plata). The fine halftone illus- satisfactory but maintained because available evidence trations of figure 4 are the work of Mr. H. is inadequate to permit distribution ofthe included groups Galiano. For informative exchanges of fact into more meaningful suprafamilial categories. See dis- and opinion regarding South American fossil cussion below. 1983 CIFELLI: CONDYLARTHRA 3 margins of the tibial trochlea not raised into Simpson (1948) has already shown. Proec- sharp crests; superior astragalar foramen ves- tocion, based on upper cheek teeth, I place in tigial or absent. Astragalar head medially and the Litopterna and refer to it the lower molars transversely expanded. Astragalar facet for described by Pascual (1965) as Oxybuno- the medial malleolus ofthe tibia vertical and therium. Stirton (1947)3 described a worn M3 turning sharply mediad anteriorly. Peroneal from the Oligocene of Colombia as Lophio- tubercle of calcaneum extending posterodor- dolodus chaparralensis, but pertinence to this sally and terminating at the base of the ectal group is not clear, and it may be sirenian, as prominence. speculated by McKenna (1956). Paula Couto Simpson (1948, p. 95) noted that, "it is at (1952a) described four species of didolodon- present impossible to frame a purely mor- tids from Itaborai: Ernestokokenia parayi- phological definition (i.e., of the Didolodon- runhor, E. protocenica, Asmithwoodwardia tidae) which would ... exclude the North scotti, and Lamegoia conodonta. Based on American condylarth families." The above pedal evidence presented elsewhere (Cifelli, pedal characters, all advanced with respect 1983), I here refer Ernestokokenia parayi- to the primitive ungulate condition seen in runhor to the Litopterna under a new generic Protungulatum (see Szalay and Decker, 1974; name. Ernestokokenia protocenica is pedally Cifelli, 1983), do distinguish the didolodonts, and dentally a didolodontid, but differs sig- but they are based on unassociated tarsals of nificantly from the Patagonian species ofthat only a few of the included genera (Cifelli, genus and therefore also warrants generic sta- 1983), and the diagnosis must therefore be tus; Asmithwoodwardia is very tentatively re- regarded as provisional. An M3 hypocone is moved to the Litopterna. The addition of characteristic of all didolodontids (unless previously described and new material to La- Asmithwoodwardia is included), and does megoia conodonta improves knowledge of distinguish them from litopterns and the that distinctive species. McKenna (1956) de- primitive members, at least, of the Holarctic scribed Megadolodus from the Friasian La condylarthran families. Venta locality in Colombia, based on a jaw Simpson (1948) has reviewed the taxo- fragment with Ml and broken P4. Pertinence nomic history ofspecies placed in this family, to the family is clear, but more precise affin- and repetition here is unnecessary. Simpson ities are problematic. Perutherium altipla- listed the following genera of Didolodont- nense, based on two fragmentary specimens idae as valid: Didolodus, Argyrolambda, from a Late Cretaceous faunule near Laguna Paulogervaisia, Proectocion, Enneoconus, Umayo, Peru, has been referred to the Arc- Asmithwoodwardia, Ernestokokenia, and Ar- tocyonidae (Grambast
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chronostratigraphy of the Mammal-Bearing Paleocene of South America 51
    Thierry SEMPERE biblioteca Y. Joirriiol ofSoiiih Ainorirari Euirli Sciriin~r.Hit. 111. No. 1, pp. 49-70, 1997 Pergamon Q 1‘197 PublisIlcd hy Elscvicr Scicncc Ltd All rights rescrvcd. Printed in Grcnt nrilsin PII: S0895-9811(97)00005-9 0895-9X 11/97 t I7.ol) t o.(x) -. ‘Inshute qfI Human Origins, 1288 9th Street, Berkeley, California 94710, USA ’Orstom, 13 rue Geoffroy l’Angevin, 75004 Paris, France 3Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Absfract - Land mammal faunas of Paleocene age in the southern Andean basin of Bolivia and NW Argentina are calibrated by regional sequence stratigraphy and rnagnetostratigraphy. The local fauna from Tiupampa in Bolivia is -59.0 Ma, and is thus early Late Paleocene in age. Taxa from the lower part of the Lumbrera Formation in NW Argentina (long regarded as Early Eocene) are between -58.0-55.5 Ma, and thus Late Paleocene in age. A reassessment of the ages of local faunas from lhe Rfo Chico Formation in the San Jorge basin, Patagonia, southern Argentina, shows that lhe local fauna from the Banco Negro Infeiior is -60.0 Ma, mak- ing this the most ancient Cenozoic mammal fauna in South,America. Critical reevaluation the ltaboraí fauna and associated or All geology in SE Brazil favors lhe interpretation that it accumulated during a sea-level lowsland between -$8.2-56.5 Ma. known South American Paleocene land inammal faunas are thus between 60.0 and 55.5 Ma (i.e. Late Paleocene) and are here assigned to the Riochican Land Maminal Age, with four subages (from oldest to youngest: Peligrian, Tiupampian, Ilaboraian, Riochican S.S.).
    [Show full text]
  • Mammalia, Notoungulata), from the Eocene of Patagonia, Argentina
    Palaeontologia Electronica palaeo-electronica.org An exceptionally well-preserved skeleton of Thomashuxleya externa (Mammalia, Notoungulata), from the Eocene of Patagonia, Argentina Juan D. Carrillo and Robert J. Asher ABSTRACT We describe one of the oldest notoungulate skeletons with associated cranioden- tal and postcranial elements: Thomashuxleya externa (Isotemnidae) from Cañadón Vaca in Patagonia, Argentina (Vacan subage of the Casamayoran SALMA, middle Eocene). We provide body mass estimates given by different elements of the skeleton, describe the bone histology, and study its phylogenetic position. We note differences in the scapulae, humerii, ulnae, and radii of the new specimen in comparison with other specimens previously referred to this taxon. We estimate a body mass of 84 ± 24.2 kg, showing that notoungulates had acquired a large body mass by the middle Eocene. Bone histology shows that the new specimen was skeletally mature. The new material supports the placement of Thomashuxleya as an early, divergent member of Toxodon- tia. Among placentals, our phylogenetic analysis of a combined DNA, collagen, and morphology matrix favor only a limited number of possible phylogenetic relationships, but cannot yet arbitrate between potential affinities with Afrotheria or Laurasiatheria. With no constraint, maximum parsimony supports Thomashuxleya and Carodnia with Afrotheria. With Notoungulata and Litopterna constrained as monophyletic (including Macrauchenia and Toxodon known for collagens), these clades are reconstructed on the stem
    [Show full text]
  • (Brazil): Systematics and Age of the Itaboraian Salma
    Rev. bras. paleontol. 14(2):105-136, Maio/Agosto 2011 © 2011 by the Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia doi:10.4072/rbp.2011.2.01 A REASSESSMENT OF BUNODONT METATHERIANS FROM THE PALEOGENE OF ITABORAÍ (BRAZIL): SYSTEMATICS AND AGE OF THE ITABORAIAN SALMA ÉDISON V. OLIVEIRA Laboratório de Paleontologia, Departamento de Geologia, CTG, UFPE, Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos s/n, 50740-530, Recife, PE, Brazil. [email protected] FRANCISCO J. GOIN División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, CONICET, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. [email protected] ABSTRACT – Early Paleogene metatherians with inflated, low cusps (bunodont dentition), such as Bobbschaefferia, Procaroloameghinia, Protodidelphis, Guggenheimia, and Zeusdelphys have been subject to different interpretations regarding their affinities. A phylogenetic study including these bunodont marsupials and other selected metatherians presented here leads to the recognition of the following taxonomic assignments: “Ameridelphia”, Protodidelphidae: Carolocoutoia ferigoloi, Guggenheimia brasiliensis, G. crocheti sp. nov., Protodidelphis vanzolinii, P. mastodontoides (= Robertbutleria mastodontoidea), Periprotodidelphis bergqvisti gen. et sp. nov., and Zeusdelphys complicatus; Marsupialia, Didelphimorphia, Peradectoidea, Caroloameghiniidae: Procaroloameghinia pricei; Australidelphia, Polydolopimorphia, family indet.: Bobbschaefferia fluminensis and aff. Bobbschaefferia sp.. The phylogenetic analysis does not support a closer relationship between
    [Show full text]
  • Apa 1068.Qxd
    AMEGHINIANA (Rev. Asoc. Paleontol. Argent.) - 41 (3): 475-484. Buenos Aires, 30-09-2004 ISSN 0002-7014 A new South American mioclaenid (Mammalia: Ungulatomorpha) from the Tertiary of Patagonia, Argentina Javier N. GELFO1 Resumen. UN NUEVO MIOCLAENIDO SUDAMERICANO (MAMMALIA: UNGULATOMORPHA) DEL TERCIARIO DE PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA. Se describe un nuevo “condilartro” Mioclaenidae, proveniente de la Edad Mamífero Casamayorense, Subedad Barranquense, de Paso de Indios, Provincia del Chubut. El nuevo ta- xón Pascualodus patagoniensis gen. et sp. nov., representado por un molar superior izquierdo, es compara- do con otros Mioclaenidae, con los Didolodontidae y los más primitivos Litopterna. Una hipótesis filoge- nética provisoria es expresada a través de un cladograma de consenso estricto y uno de compromiso de mayoría. Si bien el análisis confirma la agrupación de los taxa sudamericanos en un grupo monofilético, existen numerosos puntos sin resolver. Pascualodus patagoniensis se ubica como un taxón terminal, en una politomía que reúne por un lado a los Mioclaenidae sudamericanos y por el otro, a los Didolodontidae y Litopterna. Por otra parte la consideración de caracteres dentales superiores de Escribania chubutensis, pre- viamente el único Mioclaenidae patagónico conocido, modifica sus relaciones filogenéticas vinculándolo al Didolodontidae Didolodus sp. La asignación de Pascualodus patagoniensis a los Mioclaenidae constituye el registro más moderno y el más austral de la familia. Abstract. A new Mioclaenidae “condylarth” of the Casamayoran Land Mammal Age, Barrancan subage, from Paso de Indios, Chubut Province is described. The new taxon Pascualodus patagoniensis gen. et sp. nov., represented by a left upper first molar, is compared with other Mioclaenidae; the Didolodontidae and some primitive litopterns.
    [Show full text]
  • Paleogene Pseudoglyptodont Xenarthrans from Central Chile and Argentine Patagonia
    PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10024 Number 3536, 18 pp., 4 figures October 19, 2006 Paleogene Pseudoglyptodont Xenarthrans from Central Chile and Argentine Patagonia 1 2 3 MALCOLM C. MCKENNA, ANDRE´ R. WYSS, AND JOHN J. FLYNN ABSTRACT Herein we describe a new, large-bodied species of Pseudoglyptodon, a close sloth ally, from volcaniclastic deposits of the Abanico (5 Coya-Machalı´) Formation of the central Chilean Andean Main Range. This species, P. chilensis, is a rare element of the Tinguiririca Fauna, on which the recently formalized Tinguirirican South American Land Mammal ‘‘Age’’ is founded, being known from just two specimens. The holotype of P. chilensis, a partial skull and largely complete mandibles (preserving seemingly complete upper and lower dentitions), is by far the best-preserved specimen referable to Pseudoglyptodon known. As such, this material permits a more refined phylogenetic placement of this enigmatic xenarthran than has been possible previously, with Pseudoglyptodon representing the proximal outgroup to the clade including the most recent common ancestor of Choelepus and Bradypus, plus all its descendants (i.e., crown clade sloths). A fragmentary specimen from Argentina is removed from Glyptatelus and referred to Pseudoglyptodon. Although this specimen is distinct from P. chilensis and other previously recognized species of Pseudoglyptodon, it offers too meager a basis for formally establishing a new name. Finally, phylogenetic definitions of the names Phyllophaga and Tardigrada are proposed. Historically these terms have been used largely interchangeably, but here we advocate linking the latter to the crown clade. 1 Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History ([email protected]).
    [Show full text]
  • Cambios En La Riqueza Taxonómica Y En Las Tasas De Primera Y Última Aparición De Los Proterotheriidae (Mammalia, Litopterna) Durante El Cenozoico
    Estudios Geológicos, 62 (1) enero-diciembre 2006, 155-166 ISSN: 0367-0449 Cambios en la riqueza taxonómica y en las tasas de primera y última aparición de los Proterotheriidae (Mammalia, Litopterna) durante el Cenozoico A. L. Villafañe1, E. Ortiz-Jaureguizar2, M. Bond3 RESUMEN Los Proterotheriidae han sido registrados desde el Paleoceno Superior hasta el Holoceno [«Edades- mamífero (= SALMAs) Itaboraiense-Lujanense]. Son mayoritariamente braquiodontes, cursoriales, de tamaño pequeño a mediano, que muestran una temprana tendencia hacia la monodactilia. Los objetivos del presente trabajo son: 1) analizar los cambios en la diversidad y las tasas de recambio de estos «ungulados» sudamericanos (tanto a nivel de especies como de géneros) a lo largo de todo su biocrón; y 2) vincular estos cambios con las principales variaciones en las condiciones climático-ambientales. Los resultados muestran que durante el lapso comprendido entre las SALMAs Itaboraiense-Lujanense, los Proterotheriidae sufren grandes cambios en la diversidad genérica y específica, con cuatro picos de diversidad (dos menores en las SALMAs Casamayorense y Laventense y dos mayores en las SALMAs Santacrucense y Huayqueriense). Estos picos están interrumpidos por dos hiatos en el registro fósil, en las SALMAs Divisaderense-Tinguiririquense y en la SALMA Mayoense, respectivamente). En líneas generales, los Proterotheriidae muestran durante su biocrón una elevada tasa de recambio tanto a nivel de géneros como de especies, razón por la cual esta familia puede ser considerada de gran valor bio- cronológico. Las fluctuaciones en la riqueza taxonómica y las tasas de recambio taxonómico guardan relación con los cambios climático-ambientales acaecidos durante el Cenozoico. Asimismo, la mayor diversidad se observa en aquellas SALMAs en las que hay una relación relativamente equilibrada entre bosques y pastizales, declinando marcadamente la diversidad a medida que los ambientes se tornan más abiertos y áridos.
    [Show full text]
  • Hoja Cachi.P65
    Cachi 1 RESUMEN Pucará y Altos del Cajón de edad ordovícica repre- sentan el magmatismo paleozoico en la Cordillera La Hoja Geológica 2566-III, CACHI, está ubi- Oriental. cada en las provincias de Salta y Catamarca, en el Las sedimentitas cretácico-paleógenas del Gru- noroeste de Argentina. Esta cubre parte de dos pro- po Salta afloran en la Cordillera Oriental. Esta uni- vincias geológicas: la Puna en el oeste, la cual ocupa dad está integrada por los depósitos de sinrift del aproximadamente el 70% de la superficie de la Hoja, Subgrupo Pirgua, constituido por conglomerados y y la Cordillera Oriental o Subprovincia de las Cum- areniscas rojas, y las secuencias de postrift de los bres Calchaquíes, en el este. Subgrupos Balbuena y Santa Bárbara, integradas por Los pueblos de Payogasta, Cachi, Seclantas, Mo- areniscas, areniscas carbonáticas, pelitas y ocasio- linos y Angastaco constituyen las principales con- nales calizas correspondientes a las Formaciones centraciones urbanas en la parte oriental y las minas Lecho, Yacoraite, Mealla, Maíz Gordo y Lumbrera. Tincalayu y Fénix son los centros de desarrollo más El Paleógeno de la Puna está representado por importantes de la región puneña. Las principales ac- la Formación Geste, compuesta por conglomerados tividades económicas del sector oriental de la Hoja y areniscas, cuya fauna registra condiciones de cli- son la ganadería, agricultura y turismo, mientras que ma subtropical. La actividad del arco magmático en el sector occidental es la minería. andino y el acortamiento tectónico controlaron la Las provincias geológicas tienen una diferente naturaleza de las unidades neógenas en la Puna. Las expresión morfológica.
    [Show full text]
  • (Typotheria, Notoungulata, Mammalia) from the Paleogene of Central Chile
    PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10024 Number 3520, 32 pp., 16 figures, 4 tables July 31, 2006 New Basal Interatheriidae (Typotheria, Notoungulata, Mammalia) from the Paleogene of Central Chile RALPH B. HITZ,1 JOHN J. FLYNN,2 AND ANDRE´ R. WYSS3 ABSTRACT Two new basal interatheriids (‘‘notopithecines’’) are described from central Chile. Specimens of a new taxon, Johnbell hatcheri, derive from Abanico Formation deposits near Termas del Flaco, in the valley of the Rı´o Tinguiririca, forming a distinctive element of the Tinguiririca Fauna. The Tinguiririca Fauna, which forms the basis of the recently defined Tinguirirican SALMA, documents the co-occurrence of species of archaic, dentally primitive herbivores and basal members of later diverging groups of more advanced hypsodont forms, and other transitional aspects of mammal evolution near the Eocene/Oligocene boundary. A specimen recovered from the Abanico Formation in the drainage of the Rı´o Cachapoal (,100 km north of Termas del Flaco), SGOPV 3451 is referred to Johnbell hatcheri. This is the first time a specimen from elsewhere in the central Chilean Main Range has been assigned to a species represented in the stratotype sequence of the Tinguiririca Fauna (upper Rı´o Tinguiririca Valley). Ignigena minisculus, the other new basal interatheriid recognized herein, is known only from older strata of the Abanico Formation, from the Tapado Fauna within the Rı´o Tinguiririca Valley, estimated to be Casamayoran in age. Phylogenetic analysis shows these two new basal interatheriids to be outgroups to the Interatheriinae. Both new taxa are smaller than all other interatheriids known, except Punapithecus.
    [Show full text]
  • The Neogene Record of Northern South American Native Ungulates
    Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press smithsonian contributions to paleobiology • number 101 Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press The Neogene Record of Northern South American Native Ungulates Juan D. Carrillo, Eli Amson, Carlos Jaramillo, Rodolfo Sánchez, Luis Quiroz, Carlos Cuartas, Aldo F. Rincón, and Marcelo R. Sánchez-Villagra SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of “diffusing knowledge” was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: “It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge.” This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years in thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to History and Technology Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Museum Conservation Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology In these series, the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press (SISP) publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report on research and collections of the Institution’s museums and research centers. The Smithsonian Contributions Series are distributed via exchange mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world. Manuscripts intended for publication in the Contributions Series undergo substantive peer review and evaluation by SISP’s Editorial Board, as well as evaluation by SISP for compliance with manuscript preparation guidelines (available at https://scholarlypress.si.edu).
    [Show full text]
  • To Link and Cite This Article: Doi
    Submitted: October 1st, 2019 – Accepted: June 8th, 2020 – Published online: June 11th, 2020 To link and cite this article: doi: https://doi.org/10.5710/AMGH.08.06.2020.3306 1 COTYLAR FOSSA, ITS INTERPRETATION AND FUNCTIONALITY. 2 THE CASE FROM SOUTH AMERICAN NATIVE UNGULATES 3 4 MALENA LORENTE1,2, 3 5 1 División Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata. Paseo del Bosque s/n B1900FWA, La 6 Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; [email protected]; 2 CONICET; 3 Facultad de Ciencias 7 Naturales y Museo 8 9 Number of pages: 21, 7 figures 10 Proposed header: LORENTE, COTYLAR FOSSA 1 11 12 Abstract. The cotylar fossa is a complex anatomical character in the astragalar medial malleolar 13 facet. It represents a dynamic relationship between the astragalus and the tibia in the upper tarsal 14 joint. The astragalus must accommodate the medial tibial malleolus when the tibia is in an extreme 15 flexion. It is one of the three morphological synapomorphies considered for Afrotheria, although it 16 is also a recurrent trait among different groups of mammals. Here, fossil South American Native 17 Ungulates and extant mammals were surveyed to reevaluate how much this character is spread and 18 how variable it is. Beyond afrotherians, it is observed that it also appears in primates, macropodid 19 marsupials, laurasiatherian archaic ungulates, perissodactyls, pantodonts, and dinoceratans; it is also 20 in some but not all of the extinct endemic ungulates from South America. No function has been 21 suggested before for the presence of a cotylar fossa. The cotylar fossa could be an adaptation to a 22 passive, rest related posture.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Oligocene) of Argentina
    J. Paleont., 81(6), 2007, pp. 1301–1307 Copyright ᭧ 2007, The Paleontological Society 0022-3360/07/0081-1301$03.00 A POORLY KNOWN RODENTLIKE MAMMAL (PACHYRUKHINAE, HEGETOTHERIIDAE, NOTOUNGULATA) FROM THE DESEADAN (LATE OLIGOCENE) OF ARGENTINA. PALEOECOLOGY, BIOGEOGRAPHY, AND RADIATION OF THE RODENTLIKE UNGULATES IN SOUTH AMERICA MARCELO A. REGUERO,1 MARI´A TERESA DOZO,2 AND ESPERANZA CERDEN˜ O3 1Divisio´n Paleontologı´a de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, B1900FWA La Plata, Argentina, Ͻ[email protected]Ͼ, 2Laboratorio de Paleontologı´a, Centro Nacional Patagonico, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Te´cnicas, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina, Ͻ[email protected]Ͼ, and 3Departamento de Geologı´a y Paleontologı´a, Instituto Argentino de Nivologı´a, Glaciologı´a, y Ciencias Ambientales, Centro Regional de Investigaciones Cientı´ficas y Te´cnicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientı´ficas y Te´cnicas, Avda. Ruiz Leal s/n, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina, Ͻ[email protected]Ͼ ABSTRACT—The cranial anatomy of the Deseadan species Medistylus dorsatus (Ameghino, 1903) is described based on new and complete material from Cabeza Blanca (Chubut, Argentina). Medistylus is the largest of the Pachyrukhinae and the specimen described here is probably the best-preserved pachyrukhine skull known in the Paleogene of South America. Previously, the validity of the species and its phylogenetic affinities with Interatheriidae (Notoungulata, Typotheria) were ambiguous and not conclusive. The syntypes, now reported lost, were isolated teeth poorly described by Ameghino in 1903. This almost complete skull with teeth provides more diagnostic features in order to complete the knowledge of genus. Details about cranial and dental morphology allow the reassessment of Medistylus dorsatus and its inclusion within the subfamily Pachyrukhinae (Hegetotheriidae, Notoungulata).
    [Show full text]
  • THE OLDEST MAMMALS from ANTARCTICA, EARLY EOCENE of the LA MESETA FORMATION, SEYMOUR ISLAND by JAVIER N
    http://www.diva-portal.org This is the published version of a paper published in Palaeontology. Citation for the original published paper (version of record): Gelfo, J., Mörs, T., Lorente, M., López, G., Reguero, M. (2014) The oldest mammals from Antarctica, early Eocene of La Meseta Formation, Seymour Island. Palaeontology http://dx.doi.org/DOI: 10.1111/pala.12121 Access to the published version may require subscription. N.B. When citing this work, cite the original published paper. Permanent link to this version: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:nrm:diva-922 [Palaeontology, 2014, pp. 1–10] THE OLDEST MAMMALS FROM ANTARCTICA, EARLY EOCENE OF THE LA MESETA FORMATION, SEYMOUR ISLAND by JAVIER N. GELFO1,2,3, THOMAS MORS€ 4,MALENALORENTE1,2, GUILLERMO M. LOPEZ 1,3 and MARCELO REGUERO1,2,5 1Division Paleontologıa de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina; e-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2CONICET 3Catedra Paleontologıa Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Avenida 122 y 60, (1900) La Plata Argentina 4Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden; e-mail: [email protected] 5Instituto Antartico Argentino, Balcarce 290, (C1064AAF), Buenos Aires, Argentina Typescript received 16 April 2014; accepted in revised form 3 June 2014 Abstract: New fossil mammals found at the base of Acan- ungulate. These Antarctic findings in sediments of 55.3 Ma tilados II Allomember of the La Meseta Formation, from the query the minimum age needed for terrestrial mammals to early Eocene (Ypresian) of Seymour Island, represent the spread from South America to Antarctica, which should have oldest evidence of this group in Antarctica.
    [Show full text]