First skull and associated postcranial bones of Macraucheniidae (Mammalia, Litopterna) from the Deseadan SALMA (late Oligocene) of Cabeza Blanca (Chubut, Argentina)

DOZO, MARÍA TERESA; VERA, BÁRBARA

JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY

SOC VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2010 p. 1818 - 1826

0272-4634

The first skull associated to postcranial elements of Macraucheniidae (Litopterna) from the Sarmiento Formation in Cabeza Blanca (Chubut, Argentina) are described herein. The material consists of a nearly complete skull, the nearly complete right humerus, the left Metacarpal IV and three phalanges (1st, 2nd y 3rd) of a same individual. It is compared with the Santacrucian genus Theosodon Ameghino, the Colhuehuapian Cramauchenia Ameghino, and the Deseadan species Coniopternium andinum and C. primitivum Soria and Hoffteter. The comparative study leads us to recognize this specimen as Cramauchenia normalis. The presence of this species in Cabeza Blanca increases its biochronological distribution to Deseadan South American Land Mammal Age (SALMA) (Late Oligocene).