IMPORTANCIA BIOESTRATIGRÁFICA DE UN SINGULAR ARMADILLO (XENARTHRA, DASYPODIDAE) DEL PALEÓGENO DEL NOROESTE ARGENTINO

ESTEBAN GRACIELA; DEL PAPA CECILIA; HERRERA CLAUDIA

Tucumán

Congreso; XX Congreso Geológico Argentino; 2017

Asociación Geológica Argentino

A new specimen of Pucatherium parvum is reported from the lower levels of the Upper Lumbrera Formation outcrops in Salta province. An almost complete dorsal caparace and several remains of postcranium were preserved providing important information about this particular taxon. The specimen is comparable to Dasypus novemncinctus, however osteoderms are very small. There is no evidence observed of pseudoshield or scapular shield nor pelvic shield. The dorsal caparace would be fully integrated by movable osteoderms, granting a high degree of mobility in the anteroposterior axis. A dating U / Pb of 39.9 + 0.4 Ma from the Upper Lumbrera Formation limits the biocron of Pucatherium parvum to the Middle Eocene. This, added to the broad geographic distribution of the taxon, makes it possible to correlate the Upper Lumbrera Formation with Quebrada de los Colorados, Geste and Casa Grande formations.