NEW FAUNAL REPORTS FOR THE CERRO LA CRUZ LOCALITY (LOWER MIOCENE), NORTH-WESTERN VENEZUELA

SÁNCHEZ-VILLAGRA M., ASHER R., RINCÓN A., CARLINI A.A., MEYLAN P., Y PURDY R.

SPECIAL PAPERS IN PALAEONTOLOGY SERIES

PALAEONTOLOGICAL ASSOC

Año: 2004 vol. 71 p. 105 - 112

0038-6804

ABSTRACT. Here we describe remains of taxa unrecovered until now for the Cerro La Cruz locality, including the oldest report of a trionychid turtle from South America and the second continental mammal from Castillo, represented by two isolated teeth of a tardigrad, either a megatheriid or a mylodontid sloth. We also report on a new fossil skull belonging to the podocnemidid turtle Bairdemys sp. Fragmentary material demonstrates the presence of additional shark species and a sirenian. The Cerro La Cruz fauna includes at least 24 species of vertebrates. Earlier fossil discoveries from Cerro La Cruz indicated a near-shore marine environment; the latest discoveries indicate in addition fluvial and terrestrial (perhaps coastal) deposits. Elements of the fauna (including fish of the subfamily Serrasalminae and potentially an odontocete) are consistent with the hypothesis that a tributary and/or delta of the Orinoco existed in this area of north-western Venezuela during early Miocene times. KEY WORDS: Trionychidae, Podocnemididae, Tardigrada, Sloth, Venezuela, Miocene.