PHYTOPHAGY ON FOSSIL FERNS FROM ARGENTINA (PALO PINTADO FORMATION, LATE MIOCENE): A REVIEW OF THEIR FOSSIL RECORD AND ICHNOTAXONOMY

ROBLEDO, J. M.; SARZETTI, L. C.; ANZÓTEGUI, M. L

REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PALEONTOLOGIA

SOC BRASILEIRA PALEONTOLOGIA

Lugar: Porto Alegre; Año: 2015 vol. 18 p. 225 - 238

1519-7530

Evidence of insect-fern interactions are described for the fi rst time from late Miocene strata of Salta Province,Argentina. Two ichnospecies are defi ned to include fossil traces of surface feeding and hole feeding, located between thesecondary veins and adjacent with the primary vein of two species of fossil ferns, Blechnum serrulatiformis Anzótegui &Horn and Thelypteris interrupta (Willd.) Iwatsuki. The fi rst ichnospecies corresponding with surface feeding presents oblongtraces and both ends are rounded; occupying the entire intercostal space. This type of phytophagy is found for the fi rst timein the fossil record of ferns. The second ichnospecies is similar in shape and location to the previous ichnotaxon, except thatall herbivorized tissues are absent. At last, a review of the fossil record of insect-fern associations is performed.