The first capybaras (Rodentia, Caviidae, Hydrochoerinae) involved in the Great American Biotic Interchange

VUCETICH M. G.; DESCHAMPS, C. M.; PÉREZ M. E.

AMEGHINIANA

ASOCIACION PALEONTOLOGICA ARGENTINA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2015

0002-7014

The new combination Phugatherium dichroplax nov. comb. (Ahearn and Lance, 1980) for the North American species ?Neochoerus? dichroplax Ahearn and Lance, 1980 and ?N.? cordobai Carranza-Castañeda and Miller, 1988 is proposed. Its biochron is here enlarged (late Early Blancan - latest Blancan; Piacenzian-Gelasian), being the youngest species of Phugatherium and thus extending the biochron of the genus into the Early Pleistocene. This is the first mention of a Pliocene South American lineage of capybaras crossing the Panamanian bridge, implying the recognition of a third lineage of capybaras involved in the Great American Biotic Interchange. The proposed North American origin of the genus Neochoerus is discussed.