Horned Armadillos and Rafting Monkeys: The Fascinating Fossil Mammals of South America

Description

South America is home to some of the most distinctive mammals on Earth—giant armadillos, tiny anteaters, the world’s largest rodent, and its smallest deer. But the continent once supported a variety of other equally intriguing mammals that have no close living relatives: armored mammals with tail clubs, saber-toothed marsupials, and even a swimming sloth. We know of the existence of these peculiar species thanks to South America’s rich fossil record, which provides many glimpses of prehistoric mammals and the ecosystems in which they lived. Organized as a "walk through time" and featuring species from 15 important fossil sites, this book is the most extensive and richly illustrated volume devoted exclusively to the Cenozoic mammals of South America. The text is supported by 75 life reconstructions of extinct species in their native habitats, as well as photographs of fossil specimens and the sites highlighted in the book. An annotated bibliography is included for those interested in delving into the scientific literature. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 1. Time and Geography......Page 16 2. Introduction to Mammals......Page 22 Part I: Early South American Phase and Trans-Atlantic Dispersal Interval (TADI)......Page 34 3. Tiupampa, Bolivia......Page 36 3.1 Pucadelphys andinus......Page 41 3.2 Mayulestes ferox......Page 43 3.3 Molinodus suarezi......Page 45 3.4 Alcidedorbignya inopinata......Page 47 4. Itaboraí, Brazil......Page 50 4.1 Epidolops ameghinoi......Page 53 4.2 Colbertia magellanica......Page 55 4.3 Protolipterna ellipsodontoides......Page 57 4.4 Carodnia vieirai......Page 59 5. Gran Barranca, Argentina......Page 62 5.1 Sebecus icaeorhinus......Page 65 5.2 Niolamia argentina and Caroloameghinia mater......Page 67 5.3 Utaetus buccatus......Page 69 5.4 Thomashuxleya rostrata......Page 71 5.5 Notopithecus adapinus......Page 73 6. La Gran Hondonada, Argentina......Page 76 6.1 Otronia muhlbergi......Page 79 6.2 Pseudhyrax eutrachytheroides......Page 81 6.3 Puelia plicata......Page 83 6.4 Trigonostylops wortmani......Page 85 Part II: Late South American Phase......Page 88 7. Tinguiririca, Chile......Page 90 7.1 Klohnia charrieri......Page 93 7.2 Pseudoglyptodon chilensis......Page 97 7.3 Andemys termasi......Page 99 7.4 Santiagorothia chiliensis......Page 101 8. Salla, Bolivia......Page 104 8.1 Paraborhyaena boliviana......Page 107 8.2 Branisella boliviana......Page 109 8.3 Anayatherium fortis......Page 111 8.4 Trachytherus alloxus......Page 113 8.5 Pyrotherium romeroi......Page 115 9. Chucal, Chile......Page 118 9.1 Parapropalaehoplophorus septentrionalis......Page 121 9.2 Peltephilus ferox......Page 123 9.3 Theosodon lallemanti......Page 125 9.4 Nesodon imbricatus......Page 127 9.5 Altitypotherium chucalensis......Page 129 10. Santa Cruz, Argentina......Page 132 10.1 Necrolestes patagonensis......Page 135 10.2 Borhyaena tuberata......Page 137 10.3 Hapalops indifferens......Page 139 10.4 Steiromys duplicatus......Page 141 10.5 Thoatherium minusculum......Page 143 10.6 Interatherium robustum......Page 145 11. La Venta, Colombia......Page 148 11.1 Neotamandua borealis......Page 151 11.2 Cebupithecia sarmientoi......Page 153 11.3 Megadolodus molariformis and Purussaurus neivensis......Page 155 11.4 Miocochilius anamopodus......Page 157 11.5 Granastrapotherium snorki......Page 159 12. Quebrada Honda, Bolivia......Page 162 12.1 Acyon myctoderos......Page 165 12.2 Hondalagus altiplanensis......Page 167 12.3 Guiomys unica......Page 169 12.4 Hemihegetotherium trilobus......Page 171 13. Arroyo Chasicó, Argentina......Page 174 13.1 Protomegalonyx chasicoensis......Page 177 13.2 Prolagostomus and Lycopsis viverensis......Page 179 13.3 Neobrachytherium ullumense......Page 181 13.4 Chasicotherium rothi......Page 183 13.5 Typotheriopsis chasicoensis......Page 185 Part III: The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) and the Interamerican Phase......Page 188 14. Acre, Brazil......Page 190 14.1 Neoglyptatelus originalis......Page 193 14.2 Thalassocnus natans......Page 195 14.3 Phoberomys burmeisteri......Page 197 14.4 Trigodon......Page 199 15. Catamarca, Argentina......Page 202 15.1 Andalgalornis steulleti......Page 205 15.2 Thylacosmilus atrox......Page 207 15.3 Vassallia maxima and Argentavis magnificens......Page 209 15.4 Pronothrotherium typicum......Page 211 15.5 Cyonasua brevirostris......Page 213 16. Chapadmalal, Argentina......Page 216 16.1 Sparassocynus derivatus......Page 219 16.2 Macroeuphractus outesi......Page 221 16.3 Scelidotherium parodii......Page 223 16.4 Platygonus marplatensis......Page 225 16.5 Paedotherium typicum......Page 227 17. Tarija, Bolivia......Page 230 17.1 Cuvieronius hyodon......Page 233 17.2 Glyptodon reticulatus......Page 235 17.3 Doedicurus clavicaudatus......Page 237 17.4 Megatherium americanum......Page 239 17.5 Protocyon tarijensis and Glossotherium tarijense......Page 241 17.6 Smilodon populator......Page 243 17.7 Onohippidium devillei......Page 245 17.8 Macrauchenia patachonica......Page 247 17.9 Toxodon platensis......Page 249 Further Reading......Page 252 Appendix 1. Alphabetical List of Species......Page 274 Appendix 2. Families and Higher Taxonomic Groups......Page 275 Appendix 3. Mammals of Tiupampa, Bolivia......Page 278 Appendix 4. Mammals of Itaboraí, Brazil......Page 279 Appendix 5. Middle Eocene (“Barrancan”) Mammals of Gran Barranca, Argentina......Page 281 Appendix 6. Mammals of La Gran Hondonada, Argentina......Page 283 Appendix 7. Mammals of Tinguiririca, Chile......Page 284 Appendix 8. Mammals of Salla, Bolivia......Page 285 Appendix 10. Mammals of Coastal Santa Cruz, Argentina......Page 287 Appendix 11. Mammals of La Venta, Colombia......Page 291 Appendix 12. Mammals of Quebrada Honda, Bolivia......Page 293 Appendix 13. Mammals of Arroyo Chasicó, Argentina......Page 295 Appendix 14. Mammals of Acre (Brazil and Peru)......Page 297 Appendix 15. Mammals of Catamarca, Argentina......Page 298 Appendix 16. Mammals of Chapadmalal, Argentina......Page 300 Appendix 17. Mammals of Tarija, Bolivia......Page 302 C......Page 306 L......Page 307 R......Page 308 V......Page 309 C......Page 312 G......Page 313 M......Page 314 P......Page 315 T......Page 316 X......Page 317