Protypotherium antiquum Ameghino 1885

Protypotherium antiquum Ameghino, 1885 (Fig. 4A–B; Supporting Information, Table S2) 1885 Protypotherium antiquum Ameghino, p. 81–83 (original description). Lectotype: ZMK 21 /1877 (Fig. 4A), right mandibular fragment with p4–m3 (see Fernández et al. 2018), from Late Miocene, Ituzaingó Fm., Entre Ríos Province (Argentina). Referred material: IBIGEO-P39 (Fig. 4B), less mandibular fragment with p4–m3; MCH-P 257, right mandibular fragment with p3–m1 (Armella and Bonini 2020). Extended diagnosis: Protypotherium antiquum differs from Pr. australe, Pr. praerutilum, Pr. columnifer, Pr. compressidens, Pr. minutum, Pr. claudum, and Pr. colloncurensis by having the talonid of m3 with a very deep longitudinal and transverse labial sulcus and a mesio-labial lobe distally straight; from Pr. compressidens by having relatively wider lower cheek teeth; from Pr. claudum by exhibiting a p4 with a transversely deeper, narrower, and more distally placed ectoflexid, and m1–3 with deeper entoflexid; from Pr. colloncurensis and Pr. columnifer by the sub-triangular talonid of p4; from Pr. praerutilum by having a slightly larger size; and from Pr. columnifer by the talonid of p4 narrower than the trigonid. Geographic and temporal provenance: Entre Ríos Province (Argentina), Ituzaingó Fm.; Salta Province, Palo Pintado Fm. (Zimicz et al. 2018); and Catamarca Province, Chiquimil Fm. (Armella and Bonini 2020); Late Miocene, Huayquerian SALMA. Measurements: Supporting Information, Table S2. Remarks: Zimicz et al. (2018) identified IBIGEO-P39 (Fig. 4B) as Pr.minutum mainly due to size and a trilobed m3. Nevertheless, these authors mentioned that it resembled the remaining species of the genus. Concerning these features, the presence of a trilobed m3 is common in Protypotherium and it is not exclusive of Pr. minutum (holotype MLP 12-2176) (see above). When comparing the m3 of MLP 12-2176 and IBIGEO-P39, the labial groove of the former is transversally shallow, but persistent, and in both the distal face of the mesio-labial lobe and the disto-labial lobe of the talonid are rounded. Instead, this groove is transversally deeper and persistent in IBIGEO-P39 (Fig. 4B) and the distal face of the mesio-labial lobe is straight, which is coincident with the diagnostic features of Pr. antiquum. In addition, IBIGEO-P39 (e.g. Lm1 = 6.26 mm; Wm1 ≈ 3.2 mm) is intermediate in size between Pr. minutum (e.g. Lm1 ≈ 4.6 mm; Wm1 ≈ 2.60 mm) and Pr. antiquum (e.g. Lm1 = 7.4 mm; Wm1 ≈ 4.1 mm (see Supporting Information, Table S2), being even closer to the laưer. Therefore, mainly based on the morphological features, we re-identify IBIGEO-P39 as Pr. antiquum. On the other hand, we state that MCH-P 257, mentioned as Protypotherium cf. Pr. antiquum by Armella and Bonini (2020), also corresponds to Pr. antiquum, sharing the same mentioned features with IBIGEO-P39.Published as part of Fernández, Mercedes, Fernicola, Juan C. & Cerdeño, Esperanza, 2023, Systematic revision of the species of Protypotherium (Notoungulata: Interatheriidae) from the Santa Cruz Formation (Early-Middle Miocene), Argentinian Patagonia: a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the Interatheriidae, pp. 417-444 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 199 (2) on page 428, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad043, http://zenodo.org/record/842626

Protypotherium claudum Ameghino 1889

Protypotherium claudum Ameghino, 1889 (Fig. 8B–D; Supporting Information, Table S2) 1889 Protypotherium claudum Ameghino, p. 480 (original description), pl. 14, fig. 22. Holotype: MACN-A 551 (Fig. 8B), right mandibular fragment with p2 (alveolus)–p3–m2 (see Fernández et al. 2018), Early– Middle Miocene, SCF, Santa Cruz Province (Argentina). Referred materials: MLP 73-VII-6-4 d (ex Interatheriinae indet; Fig. 8C), less mandibular fragment with p2 (broken)–m2 (trigonid), and MPEF-PV 1394 (Fig. 8D), incomplete mandible with less i1–dp1–p2–4, and right i1 and dp1–p2–m3. Extended diagnosis: Protypotherium claudum differs from Pr. compressidens, Pr. antiquum, Pr. australe, Pr. praerutilum, Pr. columnifer, Pr. minutum, and Pr. colloncurensis by p2–3 without the entoflexid and with the ectoflexid wider and slightly more mesially placed, and p4–m3 with shallower entoflexid; from Pr. australe and Pr. distinctum by having a smaller size; from Pr. compressidens by having relatively wider lower cheek teeth; from Pr. antiquum by the talonid of m3 without labial groove; from Pr. colloncurensis and Pr. columnifer by the talonid of p2–4 sub-triangular in outline; and from Pr. columnifer by the talonid of p4 narrower than the trigonid. Geographic and stratigraphic provenance: Santa Cruz Province (Argentina), SCF, Early–Middle Miocene, Santacrucian SALMA; Río Negro Province (Argentina), Collón Curá Fm., Middle Miocene, Colloncuran SALMA. Measurements: Supporting Information, Table S2.Published as part of Fernández, Mercedes, Fernicola, Juan C. & Cerdeño, Esperanza, 2023, Systematic revision of the species of Protypotherium (Notoungulata: Interatheriidae) from the Santa Cruz Formation (Early-Middle Miocene), Argentinian Patagonia: a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the Interatheriidae, pp. 417-444 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 199 (2) on page 432, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad043, http://zenodo.org/record/842626

Systematic revision and evolutionary history of Acarechimys Patterson in Kraglievich, 1965 (Rodentia, Caviomorpha, Octodontoidea)

The octodontoid rodent Acarechimys was abundant during the early Miocene and had the widest temporal and geographic distribution of any extinct caviomorph. Despite this extensive fossil record Acarechimys has not been well characterized. In this work, we systematically revise Acarechimys, describe new early–middle Miocene fossils from Argentina and Bolivia, corroborate its monophyly, and study its evolutionary history. Acarechimys has brachydont molars, retained deciduous premolars, four crests on upper molars, lowers with variably developed mesolophid and metalophulid II, and absence of mental foramen in the mandible. Acarechimys includes: Acarechimys leucotheae (late Oligocene, Chubut, Argentina), A. gracilis and A. constans (early Miocene, Chubut and Santa Cruz, Argentina), and A. minutus and A. minutissimus (early– middle Miocene of Patagonia Argentina, Bolivia, and Colombia). The temporal and geographic distributions suggest that Acarechimys could have evolved in Patagonia, by the early late Oligocene. Its acme was during the late early Miocene in Southern Patagonia. By the middle Miocene, Acarechimys decreased in diversity and was last recorded in high latitudes of South America (Patagonia). In lower latitudes, the oldest record is from the late early Miocene of Chucal, northern Chile, and during the late middle Miocene, the genus is recorded in localities of Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. The available evidence suggests that Acarechimys was probably not present in lower latitudes (N of ~ 30° S) before the early Miocene. The reasons Acarechimys dispersed northward at this time remain to be elucidated, but the timing coincides with a massive disappearance of other octodontoids from Patagonia.El roedor octodontoideo Acarechimys fue abundante durante el Mioceno temprano y tuvo la distribución geográfica y temporal más amplia para un caviomorfo viviente. A pesar de su amplio registro fósil Acarechimys nunca fue caracterizado correctamente. En este trabajo, realizamos la revisión sistemática de Acarechimys, describimos nuevos materiales del Mioceno temprano–medio de Argentina y Bolivia, corroboramos su monofilia y estudiamos su historia evolutiva. Acarechimys presenta dientes braquiodontes, retención de premolares deciduos, cuatro crestas en molares superiores, desarrollo variable del mesolófido y el metalofúlido II en molares inferiores y ausencia de foramen mentoniano en la mandíbula. Acarechimys incluye: Acarechimys leucotheae (Oligoceno tardío, Chubut, Argentina), A. gracilis y A. constans (Mioceno temprano, Chubut y Santa Cruz, Argentina), y A. minutus y A. minutissimus (Mioceno temprano–medio de Patagonia Argentina, Bolivia y Colombia). Su distribución temporal y geográfica sugiere que Acarechimys habría evolucionado en Patagonia en el Oligoceno tardío-temprano. Su acmé fue en el Mioceno temprano-tardío en el sur de Patagonia. Para el Mioceno medio Acarechimys disminuyó su diversidad y tiene su último registro en latitudes altas de América del Sur (Patagonia). En latitudes bajas, el registro más antiguo proviene del Mioceno temprano tardío de Chucal, norte de Chile, y durante el Mioceno medio se lo registra en localidades de Colombia, Bolivia y Perú. La evidencia disponible sugiere que Acarechimys probablemente no estuvo presente en bajas latitudes (N de 30ºS) antes del Mioceno temprano. Las causas de su dispersión hacia el norte deben ser todavía estudiadas, aunque la misma coincide con la desaparición masiva de octodontoideos en Patagonia

La presencia de aflatoxinas en muestras de maní en la República Argentina

Se investigó la presencia de aflatoxinas en 85 muestras de maní y de raciones que contenían maní mediante una técnica de AOAC. Se reveló la presencia de aflatoxina G1 en 5 de ellas. Las muestras provenían de distintas zonas de la República Argentina

The phylogenetic affinities of the extinct glyptodonts

Among the fossils of hitherto unknown mammals that Darwin collected in South America between 1832 and 1833 during the Beagle expedition [1] were examples of the large, heavily armored herbivores later known as glyptodonts. Ever since, glyptodonts have fascinated evolutionary biologists because of their remarkable skeletal adaptations and seemingly isolated phylogenetic position even within their natural group, the cingulate xenarthrans (armadillos and their allies [2]). In possessing a carapace comprised of fused osteoderms, the glyptodonts were clearly related to other cingulates, but their precise phylogenetic position as suggested by morphology remains unresolved [3,4]. To provide a molecular perspective on this issue, we designed sequence-capture baits using in silico reconstructed ancestral sequences and successfully assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of Doedicurus sp., one of the largest glyptodonts. Our phylogenetic reconstructions establish that glyptodonts are in fact deeply nested within the armadillo crown-group, representing a distinct subfamily (Glyptodontinae) within family Chlamyphoridae [5]. Molecular dating suggests that glyptodonts diverged no earlier than around 35 million years ago, in good agreement with their fossil record. Our results highlight the derived nature of the glyptodont morphotype, one aspect of which is a spectacular increase in body size until their extinction at the end of the last ice age.Fil: Delsuc, Frédéric. Université de Montpellier; FranciaFil: Gibb, Gillian C.. Université de Montpellier; Francia. Massey University; Nueva ZelandaFil: Kuch, Melanie. McMaster University; CanadáFil: Billet, Guillaume. Université Paris. Muséum National d’Histoire naturelle; FranciaFil: Hautier, Lionel. Université de Montpellier; FranciaFil: Southon, John. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Rouillard, JJean Marie. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Fernicola, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: Vizcaíno, Sergio Fabián. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: MacPhee, Ross D.E.. American Museum Of Natural History. New York; Estados UnidosFil: Poinar, Hendrik N.. McMaster University; Canad

A Peculiar New Pampatheriidae (Mammalia: Xenarthra: Cingulata) from the Pleistocene of Argentina and Comments on Pampatheriidae Diversity.

Pampatheriidae are a group of cingulates native to South American that are known from the middle Miocene to the lower Holocene. Two genera have been recognized between the lower Pleistocene and the lower Holocene: Pampatherium Gervais and Ameghino (Ensenadan, Bonaerian and Lujanian, lower Pleistocene-lower Holocene) and Holmesina Simpson (Blancan, Irvingtonian, upper Pliocene-lower Holocene). They have been mainly differentiated by their osteoderm morphology and cranio-dental characters. These taxa had a wide latitudinal distribution, extending from the southern part of South America (Península Valdés, Argentina) to North America (Florida, USA). In this contribution, we describe a new genus and species of Pampatheriidae for the lower and middle Pleistocene of Buenos Aires Province and for the upper Pleistocene of Santa Fe Province (Argentina).The new taxon is represented by disarticulated osteoderms, one skull element, two thoracic vertebrae and a right femur and patella. It has extremely complex osteoderm ornamentations and particular morphological characters of the cranial element and femur that are not found in any other species of the family. This new taxon, recorded in the lower-middle Pleistocene (Ensenadan Stage/Age) and in the upper Pleistocene-early Holocene (Lujanian Stage/Age), is incorporated to the Pleistocene mammal assemblage of South America. Finally, the Pampatheriidae diversity is greater during the Lujanian Stage/Age than the Ensenadan Stage/Age