MACNBR   00242
MUSEO ARGENTINO DE CIENCIAS NATURALES "BERNARDINO RIVADAVIA"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
capítulos de libros
Título:
Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata; Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata)
Autor/es:
CASSINI, G.H.; CERDEÑO, E; VILLAFAÑE, A.L.; MUÑOZ, N.A.
Libro:
Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia: high-latitude paleocommunities of the Santa Cruz Formation
Editorial:
Cambridge University Press
Referencias:
Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2012; p. 243 - 286
Resumen:
A paleobiological study of Santacrucian native ungulates ispresented  in  this  chapter.  Seven  families  are  recorded:Hegetotheriidae, Interatheriidae, Toxodontidae, and Homa-lodotheriidae    (Notoungulata);    Proterotheriidae    andMacraucheniidae    (Litopterna);    and    Astrapotheriidae(Astrapotheria); however, a detailed systematic revision isstill  pending.  A  broad  body  size  range  is  recorded.Typotheres (Hegetotheriidae þ Interatheriidae) vary from2 to 10 kg, proterotheriids vary from 20 to 100 kg, toxodontsand macraucheniids surpass 100 kg, and astrapotheres reach1000 kg. The highest taxonomic richness corresponds to therange between 20 and 100 kg. Locomotor behavior is inter-preted as mostly cursorial. Typotheres might have engagedin occasional digging, but this group also includes the mostagile and fastest forms, more so than proterotheriids. Onlytwo taxa in the sample (Interatherium and Astrapotherium)show  evidence  of  swimming  capabilities  and  potentialaquatic habits. In contrast, feeding behavior presents lessvariation,  which  agrees  with  previous  interpretations:notoungulates inhabited open habitats and fed mainly ongrass, while litopterns and astrapotheres inhabited closedhabitats and were mainly browsers. We infer that notoun-gulates  had  exceptional  chemical  digestion  capabilitieswhereas  litopterns  may  have  relied on  long  periods  ofchewing to process their food.