Aquatic mammal fossils in Latin America – a review of records, advances and challenges in research in the last 30 years.

MARIANA VIGLINO; ANA VALENZUELA-TORO; ALDO BENITES-PALOMINO; ATZCALLI EHÉCATL HERNÁNDEZ-CISNEROS; CAROLINA GUTSTEIN; GABRIEL AGUIRRE-FERNÁNDEZ; JORGE VÉLEZ-JUARBE; MARIO A. COZZUOL; MÓNICA R. BUONO; CAROLINA LOCH

THE LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC MAMMALS

Sociedad Latinoamericana de Especialistas en Mamíferos Acuáticos

Año: 2023 vol. 17

1676-7497

Records of aquatic mammal fossils (e.g. cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, mustelids, and desmostylians) from Latin America (Mexico to Tierra del Fuego) span since the mid-1800s. Aquatic mammal fossils received little attention from the scientific community, with most of the first studies conducted by Northern Hemisphere researchers. Over the last 30 years, paleontological research in Latin America has increased considerably, with descriptions of several new species and revisions of published original records. The Latin American fossil record spans from the Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene, with formations and specimens of global significance. All three maingroups of cetaceans are represented in the continent (Archaeoceti, Mysticeti, and Odontoceti). Pinnipedia are represented by the families Otariidae, and Phocidae, with records starting in the middle Miocene. Both living families of Sirenia (Trichechidae and Dugongidae) are recorded. While less common, but still relevant, records of desmostylians and mustelids are known from Oligocene and Miocene deposits. This review provides a summary of the aquatic mammals known to date, with a special focus on the advances and developments of the last 30 years, since Cozzuol’s (1996) review of the South American fossil record. An up-to-date complete list of species based on the literature and unpublisheddata is also provided. The study also provides future directions for paleontological research in Latin America, and discusses thechallenges and opportunities in the field, including the emergence of a strong new generation of Latin American researchers, manyof whom are women.