Testudinoidea Fitzinger (Testudines: Cryptodira) de la Formación Toropí/ Yupoí (ca. 58-28ka) en la provincia de Corrientes, Argentina: Taxonomía y aspectos paleoambientales

ZACARIAS GERARDO GABRIEL; ZURITA ALFREDO EDUARDO; DE LA FUENTE MARCELO SAÚL

REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PALEONTOLOGIA

SOC BRASILEIRA PALEONTOLOGIA

Lugar: Porto Alegre; Año: 2014 p. 389 - 404

1519-7530

ABSTRACT ? TESTUDINOIDEA FITZINGER (TESTUDINES: CRYPTODIRA) OF THE TOROPÍ/YUPOÍ FORMATION (CA. 58-28 KA) IN THE PROVINCE OF CORRIENTES, ARGENTINA: TAXONOMY AND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS. Remains of testudinoids from Toropí/Yupoí Formation (ca. 58-28 ka), including testudinids and emydids, were recovered from Arroyo Toropí and Santa Lucía localities (Corrientes Province, northeastern Argentina). From Arroyo Toropí two specimens of testudinid are known: the holotype of Chelonoidis lutzae (carapace, plastron and remains of the appendicular skeleton) and a partial carapace tentatively referred to this species. New specimens including remains of testudinids (cf. Chelonoidis) and emydids (Trachemys cf. T. dorbigni) have been also recovered from Santa Lucía. Comparing the global distribution of extant species of giant testudinids (e.g. Chelonoidis nigra, Geochelone sulcata, Dipsochelys elephantina and Cylindraspis peltastes) with the climate map of Kottek and collaborators, show congruence with the Tropical and Subtropical zones, characterized by warm climate. This suggests a high degree of thermosensitivity for these extant giant tortoises. This, together with the geological and paleontological data from Toropí/Yupoí Formation, allows suggesting that the giant Chelonoidis inhabited environments with warm climate conditions. In addition, warm and wet conditions are inferred in Santa Lucía from the record of Trachemys cf. dorbigni