Sergio F. Vizcaíno

Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia: Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia

For more than 120 years, the coastal exposures of the Santa Cruz Formation have been fertile ground for recovery of vertebrates from the late Early Miocene (~18 to 16 million years ago, Ma). As long ago as the 1840s, Captain Bartholomew Sulivan collected fossils from this region and sent them to Charles Darwin, who passed them to Richard Owen. Carlos Ameghino undertook several explorations of the region starting in the late 1880s. Carlos’ specimens were described by his brother Florentino, who believed that many of the species were more ancient than now understood and represented the ancestors of many Holarctic mammalian orders. Ameghino’s novel claims prompted William B. Scott to organize fossil collecting expeditions in the Santa Cruz beds led by John B. Hatcher. The fossils were described in a series of exhaustive monographs with the conclusion that the fauna was much younger than Ameghino thought. Several brief expeditions took place during the twentieth century, led by researchers from different institutions. Since 2003, we have undertaken the collection of over 1600 specimens, including large series of relatively complete skeletons. In this edited volume we have gathered together a group of researchers to study the coastal Santa Cruz Formation and its associated flora and fauna to provide a paleobiological reconstruction of the Santacrucian vertebrate community and to place it in its biotic and physical environment.

Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia: List of contributors

List of contributors Preface 1. Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia Sergio F. Vizcaino, Richard F. Kay and M. Susana Bargo 2. Tephrochronology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation Michael E. Perkins, John G. Fleagle, Matt T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adan A. Tauber and Maria T. Dozo 3. Tephrochronology and paleontology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation John G. Fleagle, Michael E. Perkins, Matt T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adan A. Tauber, Maria T. Dozo and Marcelo F. Tejedor 4. Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the Santa Cruz Formation Sergio Matheos and M. Sol Raigemborm 5. Oysters from the base of Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) of Patagonia Miguel Griffin and Ana Parras 6. Ichnology of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), at the coast between the Rio Gallegos and Rio Coyle Veronica Krapovickas 7. Fossil plant studies from late Early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Formation: paleoecology and paleoclimatology at the passive margin of Patagonia, Argentina Mariana Brea, Alejandro Zucol and Ari Iglesias 8. Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina: paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations Juan Carlos Fernicola and Adriana Albino 9. Diversity and paleobiology of the Santacrucian birds Federico Degrange, Jorge I. Noriega and Juan I. Areta 10. Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late Early Miocene of Patagonia M. Alejandra Abello, Edgardo Ortiz-Jaureguizar and Adriana M. Candela 11. Paleoecology of the mammalian carnivores (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) Francisco Prevosti, Analia M. Forasiepi, Marcos Ercoli and Guillermo F. Turazzini 12. Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata) Sergio F. Vizcaino, Juan Carlos Fernicola and M. Susana Bargo 13. Paleobiology of the Santacrucian sloths and anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa) M. Susana Bargo, Nestor Toledo and Sergio Vizcaino 14. Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata: Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata) Guillermo H. Cassini, Esperanza Cerdeno, Amalia Villafane and Nahuel A. Munoz 15. Paleobiology of Santacrucian Caviomorph rodents: a morpho-functional approach Adriana M. Candela, Luciano L. Rasia and Maria E. Perez 16. The paleobiology of Santacrucian primates Richard F. Kay, Jonathan M. G. Perry, Michael Malinzak, Kari Allen, E. Christopher Kirk, J. Michael Plavcan and John G. Fleagle 17. A review of the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation Richard F. Kay, Sergio F. Vizcaino and M. Susana Bargo Index.

Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia: Index

List of contributors Preface 1. Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia Sergio F. Vizcaino, Richard F. Kay and M. Susana Bargo 2. Tephrochronology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation Michael E. Perkins, John G. Fleagle, Matt T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adan A. Tauber and Maria T. Dozo 3. Tephrochronology and paleontology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation John G. Fleagle, Michael E. Perkins, Matt T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adan A. Tauber, Maria T. Dozo and Marcelo F. Tejedor 4. Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the Santa Cruz Formation Sergio Matheos and M. Sol Raigemborm 5. Oysters from the base of Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) of Patagonia Miguel Griffin and Ana Parras 6. Ichnology of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), at the coast between the Rio Gallegos and Rio Coyle Veronica Krapovickas 7. Fossil plant studies from late Early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Formation: paleoecology and paleoclimatology at the passive margin of Patagonia, Argentina Mariana Brea, Alejandro Zucol and Ari Iglesias 8. Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina: paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations Juan Carlos Fernicola and Adriana Albino 9. Diversity and paleobiology of the Santacrucian birds Federico Degrange, Jorge I. Noriega and Juan I. Areta 10. Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late Early Miocene of Patagonia M. Alejandra Abello, Edgardo Ortiz-Jaureguizar and Adriana M. Candela 11. Paleoecology of the mammalian carnivores (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) Francisco Prevosti, Analia M. Forasiepi, Marcos Ercoli and Guillermo F. Turazzini 12. Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata) Sergio F. Vizcaino, Juan Carlos Fernicola and M. Susana Bargo 13. Paleobiology of the Santacrucian sloths and anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa) M. Susana Bargo, Nestor Toledo and Sergio Vizcaino 14. Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata: Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata) Guillermo H. Cassini, Esperanza Cerdeno, Amalia Villafane and Nahuel A. Munoz 15. Paleobiology of Santacrucian Caviomorph rodents: a morpho-functional approach Adriana M. Candela, Luciano L. Rasia and Maria E. Perez 16. The paleobiology of Santacrucian primates Richard F. Kay, Jonathan M. G. Perry, Michael Malinzak, Kari Allen, E. Christopher Kirk, J. Michael Plavcan and John G. Fleagle 17. A review of the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation Richard F. Kay, Sergio F. Vizcaino and M. Susana Bargo Index.

Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia: Contents

List of contributors Preface 1. Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia Sergio F. Vizcaino, Richard F. Kay and M. Susana Bargo 2. Tephrochronology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation Michael E. Perkins, John G. Fleagle, Matt T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adan A. Tauber and Maria T. Dozo 3. Tephrochronology and paleontology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation John G. Fleagle, Michael E. Perkins, Matt T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adan A. Tauber, Maria T. Dozo and Marcelo F. Tejedor 4. Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the Santa Cruz Formation Sergio Matheos and M. Sol Raigemborm 5. Oysters from the base of Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) of Patagonia Miguel Griffin and Ana Parras 6. Ichnology of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), at the coast between the Rio Gallegos and Rio Coyle Veronica Krapovickas 7. Fossil plant studies from late Early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Formation: paleoecology and paleoclimatology at the passive margin of Patagonia, Argentina Mariana Brea, Alejandro Zucol and Ari Iglesias 8. Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina: paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations Juan Carlos Fernicola and Adriana Albino 9. Diversity and paleobiology of the Santacrucian birds Federico Degrange, Jorge I. Noriega and Juan I. Areta 10. Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late Early Miocene of Patagonia M. Alejandra Abello, Edgardo Ortiz-Jaureguizar and Adriana M. Candela 11. Paleoecology of the mammalian carnivores (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) Francisco Prevosti, Analia M. Forasiepi, Marcos Ercoli and Guillermo F. Turazzini 12. Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata) Sergio F. Vizcaino, Juan Carlos Fernicola and M. Susana Bargo 13. Paleobiology of the Santacrucian sloths and anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa) M. Susana Bargo, Nestor Toledo and Sergio Vizcaino 14. Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata: Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata) Guillermo H. Cassini, Esperanza Cerdeno, Amalia Villafane and Nahuel A. Munoz 15. Paleobiology of Santacrucian Caviomorph rodents: a morpho-functional approach Adriana M. Candela, Luciano L. Rasia and Maria E. Perez 16. The paleobiology of Santacrucian primates Richard F. Kay, Jonathan M. G. Perry, Michael Malinzak, Kari Allen, E. Christopher Kirk, J. Michael Plavcan and John G. Fleagle 17. A review of the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation Richard F. Kay, Sergio F. Vizcaino and M. Susana Bargo Index.

Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia: Frontmatter

List of contributors Preface 1. Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia Sergio F. Vizcaino, Richard F. Kay and M. Susana Bargo 2. Tephrochronology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation Michael E. Perkins, John G. Fleagle, Matt T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adan A. Tauber and Maria T. Dozo 3. Tephrochronology and paleontology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation John G. Fleagle, Michael E. Perkins, Matt T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adan A. Tauber, Maria T. Dozo and Marcelo F. Tejedor 4. Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the Santa Cruz Formation Sergio Matheos and M. Sol Raigemborm 5. Oysters from the base of Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) of Patagonia Miguel Griffin and Ana Parras 6. Ichnology of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), at the coast between the Rio Gallegos and Rio Coyle Veronica Krapovickas 7. Fossil plant studies from late Early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Formation: paleoecology and paleoclimatology at the passive margin of Patagonia, Argentina Mariana Brea, Alejandro Zucol and Ari Iglesias 8. Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina: paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations Juan Carlos Fernicola and Adriana Albino 9. Diversity and paleobiology of the Santacrucian birds Federico Degrange, Jorge I. Noriega and Juan I. Areta 10. Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late Early Miocene of Patagonia M. Alejandra Abello, Edgardo Ortiz-Jaureguizar and Adriana M. Candela 11. Paleoecology of the mammalian carnivores (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) Francisco Prevosti, Analia M. Forasiepi, Marcos Ercoli and Guillermo F. Turazzini 12. Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata) Sergio F. Vizcaino, Juan Carlos Fernicola and M. Susana Bargo 13. Paleobiology of the Santacrucian sloths and anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa) M. Susana Bargo, Nestor Toledo and Sergio Vizcaino 14. Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata: Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata) Guillermo H. Cassini, Esperanza Cerdeno, Amalia Villafane and Nahuel A. Munoz 15. Paleobiology of Santacrucian Caviomorph rodents: a morpho-functional approach Adriana M. Candela, Luciano L. Rasia and Maria E. Perez 16. The paleobiology of Santacrucian primates Richard F. Kay, Jonathan M. G. Perry, Michael Malinzak, Kari Allen, E. Christopher Kirk, J. Michael Plavcan and John G. Fleagle 17. A review of the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation Richard F. Kay, Sergio F. Vizcaino and M. Susana Bargo Index.