First record of Equus neogeus from Abaucán River (Catamarca, Argentina)

[EN]: The fossil vertebrate record in Catamarca province is widely recognized in the Neogene deposits, but the quaternary mammal records are poorly represented. Here, we describe remains of fossil horses from Pleistocene sediments outcropping in the Abaucán River in the locality of Tinogasta. A comp...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Garcia, M. E., Bonini, R., Alberdi, María Teresa, Prado, José Luis
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2018
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/198389
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/198389
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Equidae
Paleoecology
Late Pleistocene
Catamarca Province
Paleoecología
Pleistoceno superior
Provincia de Catamarca
Argentina
Description
Summary:[EN]: The fossil vertebrate record in Catamarca province is widely recognized in the Neogene deposits, but the quaternary mammal records are poorly represented. Here, we describe remains of fossil horses from Pleistocene sediments outcropping in the Abaucán River in the locality of Tinogasta. A comparative study was made with the known record of these groups of mammals in South America, identifying the remains as Equus neogeus, which constitutes the first records of this species for the Late Pleistocene of Catamarca (Argentina). These data increase the record of Equidae in South America and provide new evidence about the chronological and geographical distribution. Equus neogeus is the largest and slenderest morphotype of the South American horses, and occurs in eastern South America, but does not recorded outside of lowland Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. This is the first record in the higher altitude regions. In addition, the lithostratigraphic context was analyzed, allowing paleoecological considerations. The chronostratigraphic context recognize that the carrier levels are referable to the Lujanian Age.