A new argyrolagid marsupial from the Early Miocene of Patagonia (Argentina)

CARLINI AA; PASCUAL R; GOIN FJ

NEWES JAHRBUCH FÜR GEOLOGIE UND PALÄONTOLOGIE

E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung

Lugar: Stuttgart ; Año: 2007 vol. 245 p. 323 - 330

We describe Anargyrolagus primus gen et sp. nov. (Marsupialia, Polydolopimorphia, Bonapartheriiformes, Argyrolagoidea), represented by cranial and mandibular remains exhumated from Colhuehuapian beds (Early Miocene) of Patagonia (Chubut Province, Argentina).  This species is the oldest and most primitive Argyrolagidae known from Patagonia.  In several aspects it resembles the basic cranial, mandibular, and dental features distinguishing the late Miocene species of Argyrolagus; however, it preserves three additional teeth of the generalized metatherian dental formula: the canine and the first two premolars. In occlusal view, its molars are more quadrangular in shape than those of Argyrolagus and Microtragulus.