Una nueva especie de Neuryurus Ameghino (Mammalia, Glyptodontidae) en el Pleistoceno tardío de la Mesopotamia de Argentina.

ZURITA, A. E; FERRERO, B.

GEOBIOS

ELSEVIER

Lugar: London; Año: 2009 p. 663 - 673

0016-6995

Among the South American Pleistocene Glyptodontidae (Xenarthra, Cingulata), one of the most scarcely represented genus in the fossil record is Neuryurus Ameghino, in which the only well characterized species, until now, is N. rudis (Gervais), coming from the Ensenadan (early Pleistocene-middle Pleistocene) of the Pampean region, Argentina. In this contribution we report and describe a new species of Neuryurus, coming from the Arroyo Feliciano Formation (early Lujanian; ca. 130 ka.), Entre Ríos province, Argentina, in a particular palaebiogeographic context. From a morphological perspective, this new taxon is characterized by: a) the remarkable development of the foramina at the exposed surface of the osteoderms of the dorsal carapace, showing  un aspect almost spongy; b) the large diameter of the perforations observed in the ventral surface of the osteoderms, resembling to those present in the dorsal surface of the osteoderms of the Glyptodontidae Doedicurinae; c) the evident thickness of the osteoderms, as in Glyptodon Owen; d) area of contact and articulation of adjacent osteoderms very denticulate, with deep osseous interdigitating projections, as in Glyptodon and Glyptotherium Osborn, but here more evident; e) larger osteoderms of the dorsal carapace showing, in the dorsal surface, many little conical tubercles, having some resemblance to Panochthus tuberculatus Burmeister. The ensemble of the taxa associated to this new species (eg. Tapirus, Holmesina paulacoutoi, Pteronura) suggest the presence of warm and wet climatic- environmental conditions, linked probably to the last interglacial period (ca. 130 ka). The presence of this new species in the early-late Pleistocene of the Mesopotamic region is another element that adds to the biogeographical characterization of this particular area, especially evident during the warm and humid pulses of the late Pleistocene. In turn, this species represents the first record of the genus outside the Pampean region.