The Quaternary record of Euneomys (Mammalia, Rodentia, Cricetidae) from northwestern Patagonia: evidence for regional extinction.

HAJDUK, ADAN; TAMMONE, MAURO N.; CHRISTIE, MIGUEL; LACEY, EILEEN A.; PARDIÑAS, ULYSES F. J.

JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY

SOC VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2016 vol. 36 p. 1 - 7

0272-4634

The fossil record of the sigmodontine rodent Euneomys mordax (Muroidea, Euneomyini), a specialized large form from Andean environments in Argentina and Chile, is described from Late Pleistocene-Holocene deposits in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. This rodent is recorded in two archaeological sites placed about 200 km SSW from the nearest recent recording locality for the species. In addition, these fossil occurrences are below 1000 m whereas the current range of the species is usually above 1800 m. E. mordax had a widespread distribution during most of the Holocene, probably in concordance with the existence of more humid and cold conditions. Its regional disappearance during Late Holocene seems to be coeval with the strong declination of the congeneric Euneomys petersoni and two caviomorph, Ctenomys sociabilis and Octodon bridgesii, and probably was triggered by the reduction of open environments in the changing fringe of the forest-steppe ecotone.