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Article: New Palaeogene caviomorphs (Rodentia, Hystricognathi) from Santa Rosa, Peru: systematics, biochronology, biogeography and early evolutionary trends

Papers in Palaeontology - Volume 6 Issue 2 - Cover
Publication: Papers in Palaeontology
Volume: 6
Part: 2
Publication Date: May 2020
Page(s): 193 216
Author(s): Michelle Arnal, Alejandro G. Kramarz, María G. Vucetich, Carl D. Frailey, and Kenneth E. Campbell
DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1264
Addition Information

How to Cite

ARNAL, M., KRAMARZ, A.G., VUCETICH, M.G., FRAILEY, C.D., CAMPBELL, K.E. 2020. . Papers in Palaeontology, 6, 2, 193-216. DOI: /doi/10.1002/spp2.1264

Author Information

  • Michelle Arnal - Departamento Paleontología de Vertebrados Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo Unidades de Investigación Anexo Museo de La Plata Av. 122 y 60 1900 La Plata Argentina
  • Michelle Arnal - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas CONICET Buenos Aires Argentina
  • Alejandro G. Kramarz - Sección Paleontología de Vertebrados Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’ CONICET Av. Ángel Gallardo 470 Buenos Aires C1405DJR Argentina
  • María G. Vucetich - Departamento Paleontología de Vertebrados Museo de La Plata Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo Paseo del Bosque s/n 1900 La Plata Argentina
  • Carl D. Frailey - Johnson County Community College Overland Park KS USA
  • Kenneth E. Campbell - Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Los Angeles CA USA

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 25 April 2020
  • Manuscript Accepted: 04 March 2019
  • Manuscript Received: 16 August 2018

Funded By

Proyecto de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica. Grant Number: PICT‐2014‐2734
National Geographic Society
Alison Stenger

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

The origin and early evolution of South American rodents are ongoing subjects of debate. The caviomorphs of the Peruvian localities of Santa Rosa and Contamana are the oldest South American rodents so far known. The Santa Rosa rodents are abundant and diverse, but dating was based on biostratigraphy (?Eocene), whereas in various Contamana sites radiometric dates, vertebrate biochronology and palynostratigraphy suggest an age of 41.6–40.94 Ma (late middle Eocene). Previous faunal comparisons between the localities have identified few shared taxa. Here we studied new and previously described rodent fossils from Santa Rosa and analysed their biochronological and biogeographical implications. We recognize five new taxa and three genera for Santa Rosa, four of them previously known only from the Eocene Contamana region. Thus, the Santa Rosa and the late middle Eocene Contamana assemblages appear to be chronologically closer than previously thought. An ?Eocene age for Santa Rosa is substantiated by other mammals reported from Santa Rosa. With 11 named genera and 15 species, the Santa Rosa rodents represent the most species‐rich South American Palaeogene rodent assemblage known. The Eocene radiation in the Neotropics that gave rise to this diversity was not associated with an immediate geographical dispersion to higher latitudes, perhaps because different biogeographical barriers or factors of competition delayed their dispersal. Evidence suggests that replacement, rather than a persistence of conservative long‐lasting lineages, was the dominant process among Palaeogene tropical caviomorph rodents.

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