Equus (Amerhippus) neogeus Lund 1840 (Equidae, Perissodactyla) at Paso Otero 5 site (Argentina): Its implication for the extinction of the South American horse.

PRADO, J. L., M. T. ALBERDI, G. MARTÍNEZ Y M. A. GUTIERREZ

Neuen Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie

E. Schweizerbart´sche Verlagsbuchhandlung

Lugar: Stuttgart; Año: 2005 vol. 8 p. 449 - 468

The scarce horse remains from Paso Otero 5 are assigned to Equus (Amerhippus) neogeus and represent a new locality for it in South America. The faunal association of Paso Otero 5 indicate that paleoecological and climatic conditions during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition were arid. The pollen, silicobioliths and stable isotope records also indicate that there was a cold pulse during this period. This site is date by 14C AMS ca. 10,400 years BP. The archaeological and palaeontological data in the Pampas region and local evidences of Paso Otero 5 site indicate that a trend toward semiarid or arid conditions prevailed during human colonisation at the end of the late Pleistocene in this area.