THE STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE OF THE LARGE CANIDS (CARNIVORA, CANIDAE) IN SOUTH AMERICA, AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE QUATERNARY BIOSTRATIGRAPHY

PREVOSTI, F. J., TONNI, E. P. Y BIDEGAIN, J. C.

QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2009 p. 76 - 81

1040-6182

The fossil record of large canids is reviewed in order to improve the current South American biostratigraphicchart. This analysis is based on the recent systematic revision of those taxa performed by one ofthe authors and new field and paleomagnetic works. The first occurrences of large canids are limited tothe Early–Middle Pleistocene (Ensenadan stage/age). Theriodictis platensis, ‘‘Canis’’ gezi, and Protocyonscagliorum are restricted to the Ensenadan. Most T. platensis specimens came from late Ensenadan levels(0.78–z0.5 Ma), but the oldest one is between 0.78 Ma and 1 Ma old. The biochron of Protocyon troglodytesspans the Ensenadan–Lujanian interval, and its youngest remains are associated with 14C dates of25–27/20–10 ka BP. Most individuals of Protocyon tarijensis could be between 1 Ma and 10 ka, but onespecimen comes from a level surely younger than 0.78 Ma, and probably younger than 28 ka. The oldestrecords of the living species Chrysocyon brachyurus are between ca. 0.3 Ma–9 ka BP. The first record ofCanis dirus (and Canis by extension) in South America is limited to the latest Pleistocene (<25–27 ka).