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New Remains of Megathericulus patagonicus Ameghino, 1904 (Xenarthra, Tardigrada) from the Serravallian (Middle Miocene) of Bolivia; Chronological and Biogeographical Implications

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Abstract

In this contribution, we describe new remains (skull and humeri) of the Megatheriinae Megathericulus patagonicus Ameghino, 1904, recovered from the middle Miocene fossiliferous locality of Quebrada Honda, Bolivia. We also discuss the taxonomic, biogeographical, and chronological relevance of this discovery. Referral of the new specimens described here to Megathericulus patagonicus is based on metric and morphological similarities with the holotype and a humerus that has been referred to this species. Shared features include: 1) molariforms that are mesiodistally compressed and rectangular in outline; 2) a relatively less compressed M1 with labial and lingual margins that converge slightly mesially; 3) a very long premolariform portion of the maxillae (rostrum); 4) anteriorly divergent lateral edges of the maxillae; 5) a prominent, median V-shaped notch (apex posterior) between the articular surfaces of the maxillae and premaxillae; and 6) a long, gracile humerus with a prominent anterolaterally positioned deltopectoral crest on the anterior surface and a clearly evident lateral musculo-spiral channel. Precise geographic and stratigraphic data exist for the described remains, which are closely associated with a tuff dated at 12.2–12.5 Ma (Serravallian, middle Miocene), making it the first accurately dated specimen referred to Megathericulus Ameghino, 1904.

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Acknowledgements

For assistance in the field and geological observations, we thank K. Bamba, M. Ciancio, A. Deino, L. Gibert, F. Mamani, O. Moreira, B. Saylor, B. Shockey, and E. Vilca. Comments and suggestions of two reviewers and the editors improved this manuscript. This research was supported by the National Geographic Foundation (NGS 8115-06 to DAC) and the National Science Foundation (EAR 0958733 and 1423058 to DAC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción (CICYTTP-CONICET), Materi y España, E3105BWA, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina

    Diego Brandoni

  2. División Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina

    Alfredo A Carlini

  3. Facultad de Ingeniería Geológica, Universidad Autónoma Tomás Frías, Av. del Maestro s/n, Potosí, Bolivia

    Federico Anaya

  4. Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    Phil Gans

  5. Department of Anatomy, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Darin A Croft

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  1. Diego Brandoni
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  2. Alfredo A Carlini
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Correspondence to Diego Brandoni.

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Brandoni, D., Carlini, A.A., Anaya, F. et al. New Remains of Megathericulus patagonicus Ameghino, 1904 (Xenarthra, Tardigrada) from the Serravallian (Middle Miocene) of Bolivia; Chronological and Biogeographical Implications. J Mammal Evol 25, 327–337 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-017-9384-y

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