6 research outputs found
First fossil record of the South American frog genus Odontophrynus Reinhardt and Lütken, 1862 (Anura, Neobatrachia)
No full textThe frog genus Odontophrynus comprises 10 species arranged in three species groups that inhabit southeastern South America. In Argentina, it is represented by the O. americanus and O. occidentalis species groups and, despite being a fairly common taxon of the extant herpetofauna, it has no known fossil record. Here we report on the first fossil record of the genus, based on an almost complete right ilium from the lower levels of the Buenos Aires Formation (OIS 11, Bonaerian age, middle Pleistocene) in the Bonaerian Pampas of Argentina. The taxonomic allocation is derived from a thorough survey of anuran ilia and is grounded in a set of distinct ilial characters that, in combination, do not occur in any other anuran. These include: ilium not fused to ischium; well-developed dorsal acetabular expansion; broad preacetabular zone with a shallow preacetabular fossa; straight ilial shaft lacking dorsal ridge; and spike-like dorsal prominence bearing a distinct dorsal protuberance. Additionally, after comparing with a large sample of specimens representing most species of Odontophrynus, we propose two main characters (high spike-like dorsal prominence, absence of a lateral knob on the dorsal prominence) that allow referral to Odontophrynus aff. O. americanus or O. cordobae. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP Citation for this article: Turazzini, G. F., M. L. Taglioretti, and R. O. Gómez. 2016. First fossil record of the South American frog genus Odontophrynus Reinhardt and Lütken, 1862 (Anura, Neobatrachia). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1228657.Fil: Turazzini, Guillermo Fidel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Taglioretti, Matias Luciano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Raul Orencio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; Argentin
First fossil record of the South American frog genus <i>Odontophrynus</i> Reinhardt and Lütken, 1862 (Anura, Neobatrachia)
No full textThe frog genus Odontophrynus comprises 10 species arranged in three species groups that inhabit southeastern South America. In Argentina, it is represented by the O. americanus and O. occidentalis species groups and, despite being a fairly common taxon of the extant herpetofauna, it has no known fossil record. Here we report on the first fossil record of the genus, based on an almost complete right ilium from the lower levels of the Buenos Aires Formation (OIS 11, Bonaerian age, middle Pleistocene) in the Bonaerian Pampas of Argentina. The taxonomic allocation is derived from a thorough survey of anuran ilia and is grounded in a set of distinct ilial characters that, in combination, do not occur in any other anuran. These include: ilium not fused to ischium; well-developed dorsal acetabular expansion; broad preacetabular zone with a shallow preacetabular fossa; straight ilial shaft lacking dorsal ridge; and spike-like dorsal prominence bearing a distinct dorsal protuberance. Additionally, after comparing with a large sample of specimens representing most species of Odontophrynus, we propose two main characters (high spike-like dorsal prominence, absence of a lateral knob on the dorsal prominence) that allow referral to Odontophrynus aff. O. americanus or O. cordobae. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP Citation for this article: Turazzini, G. F., M. L. Taglioretti, and R. O. Gómez. 2016. First fossil record of the South American frog genus Odontophrynus Reinhardt and Lütken, 1862 (Anura, Neobatrachia). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1228657.</p
New well-preserved materials of <i>Glossotherium chapadmalense</i> (Xenarthra, Mylodontidae) from the Pliocene of Argentina shed light on the origin and evolution of the genus
No full textFossil remains of extinct mylodontine sloths have been discovered in numerous localities throughout the American supercontinent, but knowledge of them is still mainly centered on the Pleistocene forms rather than their Neogene relatives. In this contribution, previously unpublished cranial and postcranial materials herein ascribed to Glossotherium chapadmalense (Kraglievich), coming from the Pliocene Chapadmalal Formation (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), are presented. These remains are described and compared with those of other mylodontine species from South and North America, providing an exhaustive characterization of cranial morphology in G. chapadmalense and some preliminary insights into its postcranial anatomy. The results have revealed a unique combination of differences and similarities of this enigmatic species with the larger-sized representatives of Glossotherium. In addition, these materials allowed shedding light on the long-standing uncertainties regarding its taxonomic status, as this form has been alternately considered to belong to the genera Glossotherium or Glossotheridium over the last century. As a result, the genus Glossotherium was present, at least, at the Early–Late Pliocene transition in the Pampean region of Argentina, and is recorded by the Upper Pleistocene throughout the entire South American continent. The radiation of the Pleistocene species is associated with a consistent body mass increase that was probably a response to the cooling temperatures and higher predation pressure in South America during the Late Pliocene–Early Pleistocene. These phenomena were probably driven by the stable emergence of the Panamanian Isthmus around 3 Ma and the successive faunal turnover pulses of the Great American Biotic Interchange.</p
A new Mesembriornithinae (Aves, Phorusrhacidae) provides new insights into the phylogeny and sensory capabilities of terror birds
No full text<div><p>ABSTRACT</p><p>Terror birds constitute the most outstanding group of the South American Cenozoic avifauna. Considered as apex predators, their hunting skills have recently been examined, but their diversity is still unresolved. Here we report a new terror bird from the late Pliocene of Argentina, represented by the most complete articulated skeleton of one yet found. Our phylogenetic analysis places this taxon among derived phorusrhacids (Mesembriornithinae). One of the most striking cranial features of the new species is the suppression of intracranial kinesis due to the presence of an independent ossified bone that increases the structural link between the lacrimal and jugal bars, and the absence of both palatal hinges. The new species possesses ossified tracheal rings and a tracheobronchial syrinx, as well as sclerotic ossicles to adjust the shape of the cornea during its diurnal vision, and reveals a mean hearing sensitivity (~2300 Hz) below the average for living species. The discovery of this new species provides new insights for studying the anatomy and phylogeny of phorusrhacids and a better understanding of this group's diversification.</p><p>http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AD022100-8C19-49AD-93B5-BF2BF6D7A695</p><p>SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP</p></div
A mitogenomic timetree for Darwins enigmatic South American mammal Macrauchenia patachonica
No full textThe unusual mix of morphological traits displayed by extinct South American native ungulates (SANUs) confounded both Charles Darwin, who first discovered them, and Richard Owen, who tried to resolve their relationships. Here we report an almost complete mitochondrial genome for the litoptern Macrauchenia. Our dated phylogenetic tree places Macrauchenia as sister to Perissodactyla, but close to the radiation of major lineages within Laurasiatheria. This position is consistent with a divergence estimate of -1/466 Ma (95% credibility interval, 56.64-77.83 Ma) obtained for the split between Macrauchenia and other Panperissodactyla. Combined with their morphological distinctiveness, this evidence supports the positioning of Litopterna (possibly in company with other SANU groups) as a separate order within Laurasiatheria. We also show that, when using strict criteria, extinct taxa marked by deep divergence times and a lack of close living relatives may still be amenable to palaeogenomic analysis through iterative mapping against more distant relatives.Fil: Westbury, Michael. Universitat Potsdam; AlemaniaFil: Baleka, Sina. Universitat Potsdam; AlemaniaFil: Barlow, Axel. Universitat Potsdam; AlemaniaFil: Hartmann, Stefanie. Universitat Potsdam; AlemaniaFil: Paijmans, Johanna L.A.. Universitat Potsdam; AlemaniaFil: Kramarz, Alejandro Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Forasiepi, Analia Marta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Bond, Mariano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; ArgentinaFil: Gelfo, Javier Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; ArgentinaFil: Reguero, Marcelo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; ArgentinaFil: López Mendoza, Patricio Gonzalo. Center for Maritime Archeology Research of the South Eastern Pacific; ChileFil: Taglioretti, Matias Luciano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Municipalidad de General Pueyrredon. Secretaría de Cultura. Museo Municipal de Ciencias Naturales Lorenzo Scaglia; ArgentinaFil: Scaglia, Fernando. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Municipalidad de General Pueyrredon. Secretaría de Cultura. Museo Municipal de Ciencias Naturales Lorenzo Scaglia; ArgentinaFil: Rinderknecht, Andrés. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; UruguayFil: Jones, Washington. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; UruguayFil: Mena, Francisco. Centro de Investigacinn En Ecosistemas de la Patagonia; ChileFil: Billet, Guillaume. Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle; FranciaFil: de Muizon, Christian. Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle; FranciaFil: Aguilar, José Luis. Museo Paleontologico San Pedro; ArgentinaFil: Macphee, Ross Douglas Earle. American Museum of Natural History; Estados UnidosFil: Hofreiter, Michael. Universitat Potsdam; Alemani
Los retos de la investigación de la zooarqueología en Colombia: una visión preliminar
No full textIn Colombia, zooarchaeology faces numerous challenges due to limited preparation and resources, particularly in the field of preventive archaeology. This discipline—integrating zoology, biology, ecology, geology, history, and anthropology—has evolved from being practiced primarily by palaeontologists, veterinarians, and biologists to becoming part of New Archaeology through the work of anthropologists and archaeologists. However, recent advances in genetic analysis and spectrometry have challenged traditional methods and underscored existing inequalities in access to these tools. In Colombia, zooarchaeological research has been concentrated in the Atlantic Coast and the Bogotá Savannah regions but is hindered by the lack of publicly accessible reference collections and insufficient academic training in the field. A recent survey reveals the urgent need to improve zooarchaeological education, promote the adoption of new approaches and methodologies, and address disparities in access to advanced technologies. The incorporation of techniques such as ancient DNA analysis, morphometrics, proteomics, and stable isotope analysis has transformed the study of animal remains in archaeological contexts. To strengthen the discipline, it is essential to enhance training, resources, and institutional support, and to ensure access to reference collections—both physical and digital—within preventive archaeology practices. In conclusion, zooarchaeology in Colombia holds great potential for development, and the active involvement of the State is crucial to meet contemporary challenges related to sustainability and environmental change.En Colombia, la zooarqueología enfrenta diversos retos debido a la falta de preparación y recursos, especialmente en arqueología preventiva. La disciplina, que integra zoología, biología, ecología, geología, historia y antropología, ha evolucionado desde sus inicios, pasando de ser practicada por paleontólogos, veterinarios y biólogos, a ser integrada en la Nueva Arqueología por antropólogos y arqueólogos. Sin embargo, los avances recientes en análisis genético y espectrometría cuestionan los métodos tradicionales y destacan las desigualdades en el acceso a estos recursos. En Colombia, la investigación zooarqueológica se ha concentrado en la Costa Atlántica y la Sabana de Bogotá, pero enfrenta dificultades debido a la falta de colecciones de referencia de acceso público y la insuficiente formación en esta disciplina en las universidades. La encuesta realizada revela la necesidad de mejorar la formación de los zooarqueólogos, fomentar la adaptación a nuevos enfoques y metodologías, y abordar las desigualdades en el acceso a recursos y metodologías avanzadas. La incorporación de técnicas como el análisis de ADN antiguo, la morfometría, la proteómica y el análisis de isótopos estables ha transformado el estudio de los restos animales en contextos arqueológicos. Para fortalecer la disciplina, es crucial mejorar la formación, los recursos y el apoyo institucional, así como facilitar el acceso a colecciones de referencia en actividades de arqueología preventiva, ya sea en medios físicos o digitales. En resumen, la zooarqueología en Colombia tiene un gran potencial por desarrollar, y se requiere la participación del Estado para enfrentar los desafíos contemporáneos de sostenibilidad y cambio ambiental
