First Evidence of Extinct Megafauna in the Southern Argentinian Puna

MARTÍNEZ, JORGE G.; ASCHERO, CARLOS A.; POWELL, JAIME E.; RODRÍGUEZ, MARÍA FERNANDA

Current Research in the Pleistocene

Center for the Study of the First Americans

Lugar: Texas (USA); Año: 2004 vol. 21 p. 104 - 107

8755-898X

Summary   Recent investigations carried out in the southern Argentinean Puna, specifically in Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca, NW of Argentina), drove to the recovery of material evidences corresponding to two species of extinct megafauna, related to three dating in the late Pleistocene. The analysis of this evidences allowed identifying a species of ground sloth (Megatheriinae) and an extinct horse (Hippidion sp.) that had not been detected until the present in this sector of the Argentinean Puna (26º 04´ S latitude; 67º 24´ W longitude).