Article
Paleontology
Mercedes Fernandez, Juan C. Fernicola, Esperanza Cerdeno
Summary: This study provides a taxonomic revision of the genera Icochilus and Interatherium, suggesting that they actually belong to the same genus, contrary to previous classifications. A phylogenetic analysis supports this conclusion. The distribution of Interatherium in the Santa Cruz Formation does not allow for subdivision based on time or geography.
Article
Geology
Thomas Martin, Francisco J. Goin, Julia A. Schultz, Javier N. Gelfo
Summary: This paper reports on the discovery of rare Cretaceous animal teeth fragments in Santa Cruz province, Argentina, revealing new records of docodontans, Cretaceous australosphenidans, and stem dryolestids in South America. These fossils may provide important clues for understanding faunal interrelationships between Australia and South America during the late Early/early Late Cretaceous.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Mercedes Fernandez, Juan C. Fernicola, Esperanza Cerdeno
Summary: Protypotherium is a main genus of the Interatheriidae, widely distributed in southern to middle latitudes of Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Chile. This study provides a taxonomic revision of the Santacrucian species of Protypotherium and concludes the validity of certain species within this genus. Additionally, a phylogenetic analysis reveals the relationship of Protypotherium with other related genera. The findings also highlight the need for further investigation into the subdivision of the Santa Cruz Formation.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Barbara Vera, Alejo C. Scarano, Marcelo A. Reguero
Summary: Interatheres from the Cerro Boleadoras Formation in the north-west of Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, are described for the first time. The study reveals a new species, Boleatherium praeludium, with unique, ancestral, and derived features, shedding light on the evolution of foot in the Interatheriinae lineage during the Miocene.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Gabriela Pineda-Salgado, Ana Parras, Miguel Griffin
Summary: This study described and analyzed four fossil concentrations in the Monte Leon Formation, providing insights into their taphonomic history and origin. The results suggest that these fossil concentrations were formed in a low-to moderate-energy shallow marine environment and experienced different burial and reworking processes.
JOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Maiten A. Lafuente Diaz, Georgina M. Del Fueyo, Jose A. D'Angelo, Martin A. Carrizo
Summary: Spectroscopic characterization of gymnosperm fossil remains from various lithostratigraphic units in Argentina revealed differences in chemical compositions and structures among different fossil taxa.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Geology
Ezequiel I. Vera, Valeria S. Perez Loinaze, Damian Moyano-Paz, Marina D. Coronel, Makoto Manabe, Takanobu Tsuihiji, Fernando E. Novas
Summary: Few latest Cretaceous fossil floras have been discovered in South America, particularly in the Austral-Magallanes Basin. This study describes the diverse fossil elements found in the Chorrillo Formation, including water lily remains, leaf impressions, and palynological samples. The findings reveal the presence of a diverse community in low energy freshwater environments during the Late Cretaceous.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Richard F. Kay, Sergio F. Vizcaino, M. Susana Bargo, Jackson P. Spradley, Jose Cuitino
Summary: The study on the Santa Cruz Formation in Austral Patagonia reveals that the faunal structure and environmental conditions remained relatively consistent across different temporal intervals, suggesting a degree of consistency with geographical locations. Estimates of precipitation and temperature at localities were similar to those of existing lowland mammalian sites in South America, indicating a certain level of adaptability in ancient ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Paleontology
John G. Fleagle, Justin T. Gladman, Richard F. Kay
Summary: This study describes a well-preserved humerus fossil of Homunculus patagonicus, a stem platyrrhine. Comparative observations with other primates suggest that Homunculus patagonicus was a robust arboreal quadruped, distinct from living suspensory platyrrhines. The morphology of the humerus is comparable to early anthropoids from Africa rather than extant platyrrhines.
Article
Geology
Cosme F. Rombola, Carlos D. Greppi, Roberto R. Pujana, Juan L. Garcia Massini, Eduardo S. Bellosi, Sergio A. Marenssi
Summary: This study describes two silicified fossil woods from the Cerro Fortaleza Formation in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, identifying them as a new species of the fossil genus Brachyoxylon. The anatomical characteristics of these specimens indicate distinct growth ring boundaries, absence of axial parenchyma, uniseriate rays, and other features typical of this genus. This record contributes fresh evidence to the prevalence and widespread distribution of Cheirolepidiaceae in the Cretaceous of Patagonia.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Miguel D. Saggese, Joan L. Morrison, Agustin I. E. Quaglia, David H. Ellis, Catherine H. Ellis, R. Wayne Nelson, Maite B. Amoros, Carlos D. Amoros, Sonia A. Cadierno
Summary: The study focused on the nesting behavior and breeding biology of Southern Caracaras in the grasslands biome of Patagonia, Argentina. Caracaras nested in a variety of locations, including native shrubs, exotic trees, coastal cliffs, and human-made structures associated with extraction plants. The availability of nest substrates from human-made structures seemed to play a significant role in determining the spatial distribution of Southern Caracara nests in the vast, open landscape.
JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Federico L. Agnolin, Sergio Bogan, Silvio Casadio
Summary: The poorly known fossil record of chondrichthyans in Argentina is the focus of this study, which aims to describe a chondrichthyan assemblage from the late Eocene Man Aike Formation in the Lago Argentino area of Santa Cruz province. The report includes the presence of Striatolamia macrota, Macrorhizodus praecursor, Carcharias sp., and a possible member of the family Pristiophoridae for the Argentine territory, indicating a litoral and shallow water environment with temperate to cold waters based on the abundance of lamniforms.
JOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Renata Sostillo, Claudia I. Montalvo, Esperanza Cerdeno, Gabriela I. Schmidt, Alicia Folguera, M. Cristina Cardonatto
Summary: This study describes new remains of notoungulates from the late Miocene Cerro Azul Formation in La Pampa Province, Argentina, and reassigns previously studied remains, contributing to a more precise understanding of the taxonomic diversity of 25 fossil localities in this formation. The geomorphological context and evolutionary patterns provide data to place certain localities in a temporal sequence. The diversity of notoungulates in Chasicoan and early Huayquerian faunal assemblages is higher than in late Huayquerian, possibly due to climatic changes in central Argentina from late Miocene to early Pliocene.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Leandro Almonacid, Natalia Pessacg, Boris Diaz, Pablo L. Peri
Summary: This study proposes a climatic regionalization for Santa Cruz province based on rainfall and temperature data, dividing the province into 11 climatic regions. This regionalization is important for various climate studies and can be applied to examine the impacts of climate change and drought in the region.
Article
Paleontology
Mercedes Fernandez, Juan C. Fernicola, Esperanza Cerdeno
Summary: This study provides a taxonomic revision of the genus Protypotherium within the family Interatheriidae. Several species within Protypotherium were reclassified, and the phylogenetic relationship of Interatheriidae at both genus and species levels was analyzed. The study also identified the nesting of the genus Caenophilus within Protypotherium and its sister relationship with the clade formed by Deseadan Progaleopithecus and Archaeophylus.