New Cathartidae in the quaternary of the pampean region (Argentina). Comments on the fossil record of condors.

FEDERICO L. AGNOLIN; FEDERICO BRISSÓN EGLI; ELISA BEILINSON; ESTEBAN SOIBELZON; SERGIO GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ; FACUNDO IACONA; LEOPOLDO HÉCTOR SOIBELZON

Diamante

Simposio; 9th International Meeting of the Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution; 2016

The fossil record of condors in South America is relatively good. However, fossil specimens are scarce for the Late Pleistocene of Argentina. The aim of the present contribution is to communicate a new genus and species of large sized cathartid of the condor lineage. The new taxon is based on a right tarsometatarsus coming from Cantera Vignogna fossiliferous locality, at Marcos Paz District, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The fossil was found in the lower levels of the outcrop, characterized by tabular, massive to laminated siltstones which lateral extension is frequently cut by lenticular bodies of highly bioclastic sandstones assigned to the Lujanian Stage/Age (Late Pleistocene). Its size is comparable to Geronogyps and Gymnogyps, being notably smaller than Vultur. Its combination of characters is unique, allowing recognizing a new taxon. An overview of fossil cathartids from Argentine lowlands indicates the existence of several condors that are not closely related to the living South American form Vultur gryphus. The presence of these large cathartids invites to review the fossil record of V. gryphus. The latter taxon has been recorded as fossil from the Pliocene of Buenos Aires, and Pleistocene of Bolivia and Brazil. A review of the Pliocene specimens from Buenos Aires suggests that they belong to an unnamed form not closely related to Vultur. In the same way, specimens from Bolivia are different from living V. gryphus, indicating that they belong to an extinct species. Brazilian records are fragmentary and located near to the locality where the fossil form Pleistovultur nevesi was described. In this regard, we restrict the record of V. gryphus to the Late Pleistocene of Andean and Patagonian regions.