Evolutionary history of South American Paucituberculata (Mammalia: Marsupialia)

Fil: Abello, María Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva; Argentin

Analysis of dental homologies and phylogeny of Paucituberculata (Mammalia: Marsupialia)

The Paucituberculata is an endemic group of South American marsupials, recorded from the early Cenozoic up to the present. In this report, the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Paucituberculata to date is presented. Fifty-seven terminal species were scored for 74 new and re-examined characters. Homologies of dental characters used in previous systematic studies were critically reviewed to evaluate their inclusion in the analysis. Phylogenetic results corroborated two major paucituberculatan clades, Palaeothentoidea and Caenolestoidea, and the main palaeothentoid groupings: Pichipilidae, Palaeothentidae, and Abderitidae. Taxon sampling and reinterpretations of molar cusp and crest homologies played an important role in the generation of new phylogenetic hypotheses. The main differences with respect to previous phylogenies were focused on palaeothentoid relationships: Palaeothentes boliviensis and Pilchenia lucina are not members of Palaeothentidae but instead clustered with Pilchenia intermedia and P. antiqua, forming the sister-group of a Palaeothentidae+Abderitidae clade, and Titanothentes simpsoni, previously considered a palaeothentine, is nested within the Acdestinae clade. Based on the time-calibrated phylogeny, the following stages in the paucituberculatan evolutionary history are suggested: origin of the group, in the Paleocene to early Eocene at the latest, split of Caenolestoidea and Palaeothentoidea clades during the late early to middle Eocene, evolutionary radiation of palaeothentid and abderitid lineages near the Oligocene-Eocene boundary, and decreased diversity and extinction of palaeothentoids during the middle Miocene.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late Early Miocene of Patagonia

Fil: Abello, María Alejandra. Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva (LASBE). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La PlataFil: Ortiz Jaureguizar, Edgardo. Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva (LASBE). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La PlataFil: Candela, Adriana Magdalena. División Paleontología Vertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Los metatheria del río santa cruz (Formación Santa Cruz, Mioceno Temprano-Medio, Argentina): Historia y nuevos registros

Here we summarize the species of Metatheria from the Early-Middle Miocene Santa Cruz Formation at the Río Santa Cruz (RSC; Argentina). We assign newly collected specimens from the RSC localities Barrancas Blancas (BB) and Segundas Barrancas Blancas (SBB) to the known metatherian species. The metatherians from RSC were first described by F. Ameghino in 1887. He did not always establish clearly the type specimens of the species he founded, and often later he chose new type specimens. This led to confusion by future authors when they assumed they were looking at the original types when in fact they were the substitutes. We evaluated the actual and supposed type specimens from the RSC. We have identified the holotype of the Paucituberculata Palaeothentes aratae Ameghino and its calcotype. Following the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Art. 75), we formally propose neotypes, for the species Sipalocyon gracilis Ameghino (Sparassodonta) and for Microbiotherium patagonicum Ameghino (Microbiotheria). The species Perathereutes pungens Ameghino (Sparassodonta), previously known only from coastal localities, is described for the first time for the RSC. In total, we recognized 16 metatherian species for the RSC: seven Paucituberculata, seven Sparassodonta, and two Microbiotheria. Ten of the 16 species were recorded from recent fieldtrips. All 10 are recorded from SBB, six come from BB, and none from a third RSC locality, Yaten Huageno.Con el objetivo de enumerar las especies de metaterios presentes en la Formación Santa Cruz (Mioceno TempranoMedio) en el Río Santa Cruz (RSC; Argentina) y determinar nuevos ejemplares de metaterios del RSC provenientes de las Barrancas Blancas (BB) y Segundas Barrancas Blancas (SBB), se procedió a identificar las especies conocidas para dicha localidad. Los metaterios del RSC fueron descriptos por primera vez por Ameghino en 1887 y, como fue común en sus trabajos, muy pocas veces estableció los ejemplares tipo de las especies por él fundadas o eligió nuevos ejemplares tipo. Esto llevó a que, en algunos casos, los investigadores posteriores tomaran como tipo especímenes que no lo eran. Se procedió al estudio de los tipos de las especies presentes en el RSC y a la determinación de los nuevos ejemplares colectados. El estudio dio como resultado el hallazgo del holotipo y calcotipo de Palaeothentes aratae Ameghino (Paucituberculata), la designación formal de dos neotipos siguiendo los requerimientos del Código Internacional de Nomenclatura Zoológica (Art. 75), para las especies Sipalocyon gracilis Ameghino (Sparassodonta) y Microbiotherium patagonicum Ameghino (Microbiotheria) y se determinó por primera vez para el RSC la especie Perathereutes pungens Ameghino (Sparassodonta), previamente conocida para localidades de la Costa Atlántica. Quedan entonces reconocidas un número total de 16 especies para el RSC: siete Paucituberculata, siete Sparassodonta y dos Microbiotheria. Diez de las 16 especies fueron registradas en las campañas recientes. Todas fueron halladas en SBB, mientras que solo seis provienen de BBy ninguna de la tercera localidad del RSC, Yaten Huageno.Fil: Chornogubsky Clerici, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Abello, María Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Barmak, Germán David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Paleobiology of Argyrolagus (Marsupialia, Argyrolagidae) : An astonishing case of bipedalism among South American mammals

Argyrolagus constitutes, both for its craniodental and postcranial anatomy, one of the most notably specialized South American Neogene metatherians. Differentiating it from any other South American mammal, bipedal jumping has been proposed for Argyrolagus, even though this hypothesis was not supported by morphofunctional studies. Here, we describe the postcranium of A. scaglai (from the Pliocene of Argentina), perform a functional analysis, and interpret it against a varied background of locomotor adaptations of extant mammals. The configuration of joints, the degree of development and location of muscular insertions were mainly analyzed, and functional indices were evaluated. This study indicates that Argyrolagus had stabilized glenohumeral and humeroulnar joints, a great development of the arm retractors, flexors-extensors of the digits, pronator, and supinator muscles, low restrictive humeroradial joint, powerful extensor muscles of the hip, knee, and ankle, good development of the iliac muscle, and restrictive hind limb joints. Joint configurations are interpreted to be optimal to resist the impacts during jumping, avoiding dislocation, compatible with digging activity. A compromise between the capacities to dig and manipulate objects is inferred. It is concluded that Argyrolagus had bipedal jumping locomotion as well as good capacity to dig, constituting an astonishing case of convergence with the small bipedal rodents and small Australian macropodids. We suggest that bipedal jumping in Miocene and Pliocene argyrolagids should not be necessarily related to a particular arid environment. Finally, we evaluate the importance of postcranial features to understand the phylogenetic relationships of Argyrolagidae in a comprehensive phylogeny of Metatheria.Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiv

Revisión del género <i>Abderites</i> Ameghino (<i>Marsupialia, Paucituberculata, Abderitidae</i>) del Mioceno temprano a medio de Argentina y Chile

El género Abderites, proveniente del Mioceno de Patagonia, fue originalmente reconocido por Ameghino a fines del siglo XIX y es identificado desde entonces como uno de los más típicos representantes de la extinta familia Abderitidae del orden Paucituberculata. En esta contribución se presenta una revisión taxonómica de Abderites, para la cual se contó con una numerosa e inédita colección de materiales provenientes de localidades con fauna Colhuehuapense (Mioceno temprano), "Pinturense" (Mioceno temprano), Santacrucense (Mioceno temprano tardío) y "Colloncurense" (Mioceno medio). Estos nuevos especímenes permitieron ampliar el conocimiento de la morfología dentaria del género y revaluar el estatus taxonómico de las especies incluidas. Hasta el momento, las diagnosis específicas estuvieron basadas exclusivamente en rasgos cuantitativos por lo que se puso a prueba el valor diagnóstico de dichos caracteres mediante un análisis morfométrico tradicional. Adicionalmente se realizó un estudio morfológico cualitativo incluyendo una revisión de las homologías dentarias. Como resultado se reconocieron tres especies para el Mioceno de Argentina y Chile. De las ocho especies originalmente descriptas por Ameghino, solo A. crispus Ameghino, del Colhuehuapense de Argentina, y A. meridionalis Ameghino, registrada en el "Pinturense" y Santacrucense de Argentina, son aquí consideradas válidas. Además, este estudio permitió identificar una nueva especie del género registrada en el "Friasense" (Mioceno medio) de Chile y "Colloncurense" de ArgentinaSesiones libresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

South american metatherians from the begining of the Neogene (early Miocene, colhuehuapian land–mammal age): Microbiotheria and polydolopimorphia

En este trabajo se encara la revisión sistemática de dos órdenes de Metatheria (Mammalia) sudamericanos de la Edad Colhuehuapense (Mioceno temprano): Microbiotheria y Polydolopimorphia. En primer lugar, se comentan y discuten las homologías de las cúspides de los molares superiores e inferiores de los Argyrolagoidea (Polydolopimorphia). En segundo lugar, se ofrecen los resultados de un análisis filogenético de los Microbiotheriidae (Microbiotheria). En tercer lugar, se analizan los taxones colhuehuapenses de Microbiotheria y Polydolopimorphia, reconociéndose dos especies nuevas: Orden Microbiotheria, Familia Microbiotheriidae: Pachybiotherium acclinum Ameghino, Pachybiotherium sp., Clenia minuscula Ameghino, Oligobiotherium divisum Ameghino, Eomicrobiotherium mykerum sp. nov., Microbiotherium sp. y Microbiotheriidae indet.; Orden Polydolopimorphia, Suborden Bonapartheriiformes, Superfamilia Argyrolagoidea, Familia Argyrolagidae: Proargyrolagus argentinus sp. nov. y Anargyrolagus primus Carlini, Pascual y Goin; Familia Patagoniidae: Patagonia peregrina Pascual y Carlini; Argyrolagoidea indet. Finalmente, se realiza una adición al conocimiento de los Didelphoidea colhuehuapenses, describiendo una especie indeterminada de esta superfamilia, y un comentario sobre la identidad de “Microbiotherium” gutierrezi Simpson, en el que se reconoce la nueva combinación Coona gutierrezi.We review the taxonomy of two South American orders of Metatheria (Mammalia) of Colhuehuapian age (early Miocene): Microbiotheria and Polydolopimorphia. First, we comment and discuss on the cusp homologies of the upper and lower molars of the Argyrolagoidea (Polydolopimorphia). Second, we offer results of a phylogenetic analysis of the Microbiotheriidae (Microbiotheria). Third, we analyze all Colhuehuapian Microbiotheria and Polydolopimorphia known up to date: Order Microbiotheria, Family Microbiotheriidae: Pachybiotherium acclinum Ameghino, Pachybiotherium sp., Clenia minuscula Ameghino, Oligobiotherium divisum Ameghino, Eomicrobiotherium mykerum sp. nov., Microbiotherium sp., and Microbiotheriidae indet.; Order Polydolopimorphia, Suborder Bonapartheriiformes, Superfamily Argyrolagoidea, Family Argyrolagidae: Proargyrolagus argentinus sp. nov. and Anargyrolagus primus Carlini, Pascual and Goin; Family Patagoniidae: Patagonia peregrina Pascual and Carlini; Argyrolagoidea indet. Finally, we add knowledge on the Colhuehuapian Didelphoidea, describing an indeterminate species referable to this superfamily, and comment on the identity of “Microbiotherium” gutierrezi Simpson, recognizing the new combination Coona gutierrezi.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

South american metatherians from the begining of the Neogene (early Miocene, colhuehuapian land–mammal age): Microbiotheria and polydolopimorphia

En este trabajo se encara la revisión sistemática de dos órdenes de Metatheria (Mammalia) sudamericanos de la Edad Colhuehuapense (Mioceno temprano): Microbiotheria y Polydolopimorphia. En primer lugar, se comentan y discuten las homologías de las cúspides de los molares superiores e inferiores de los Argyrolagoidea (Polydolopimorphia). En segundo lugar, se ofrecen los resultados de un análisis filogenético de los Microbiotheriidae (Microbiotheria). En tercer lugar, se analizan los taxones colhuehuapenses de Microbiotheria y Polydolopimorphia, reconociéndose dos especies nuevas: Orden Microbiotheria, Familia Microbiotheriidae: Pachybiotherium acclinum Ameghino, Pachybiotherium sp., Clenia minuscula Ameghino, Oligobiotherium divisum Ameghino, Eomicrobiotherium mykerum sp. nov., Microbiotherium sp. y Microbiotheriidae indet.; Orden Polydolopimorphia, Suborden Bonapartheriiformes, Superfamilia Argyrolagoidea, Familia Argyrolagidae: Proargyrolagus argentinus sp. nov. y Anargyrolagus primus Carlini, Pascual y Goin; Familia Patagoniidae: Patagonia peregrina Pascual y Carlini; Argyrolagoidea indet. Finalmente, se realiza una adición al conocimiento de los Didelphoidea colhuehuapenses, describiendo una especie indeterminada de esta superfamilia, y un comentario sobre la identidad de “Microbiotherium” gutierrezi Simpson, en el que se reconoce la nueva combinación Coona gutierrezi.We review the taxonomy of two South American orders of Metatheria (Mammalia) of Colhuehuapian age (early Miocene): Microbiotheria and Polydolopimorphia. First, we comment and discuss on the cusp homologies of the upper and lower molars of the Argyrolagoidea (Polydolopimorphia). Second, we offer results of a phylogenetic analysis of the Microbiotheriidae (Microbiotheria). Third, we analyze all Colhuehuapian Microbiotheria and Polydolopimorphia known up to date: Order Microbiotheria, Family Microbiotheriidae: Pachybiotherium acclinum Ameghino, Pachybiotherium sp., Clenia minuscula Ameghino, Oligobiotherium divisum Ameghino, Eomicrobiotherium mykerum sp. nov., Microbiotherium sp., and Microbiotheriidae indet.; Order Polydolopimorphia, Suborder Bonapartheriiformes, Superfamily Argyrolagoidea, Family Argyrolagidae: Proargyrolagus argentinus sp. nov. and Anargyrolagus primus Carlini, Pascual and Goin; Family Patagoniidae: Patagonia peregrina Pascual and Carlini; Argyrolagoidea indet. Finally, we add knowledge on the Colhuehuapian Didelphoidea, describing an indeterminate species referable to this superfamily, and comment on the identity of “Microbiotherium” gutierrezi Simpson, recognizing the new combination Coona gutierrezi.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Earliest South American paucituberculatans and their significance in the understanding of 'pseudodiprotodont' marsupial radiations

We describe the oldest Paucituberculata marsupials, from the La Barda and Las Flores localities (Argentina; Late Palaeocene, and Early-Middle Eocene), as well as from the Itaboraí Basin (Brazil; Late Palaeocene). The new taxa are represented by very scarce, although well-preserved, dental remains. A parsimony analysis was performed in order to evaluate the phylogenetic affinities of these taxa. Representatives of both Riolestes capricornicus gen. et sp. nov. and Bardalestes hunco gen. et sp. nov. appear to be basal paucituberculatans, and their molar features give clues on the early evolution of the representatives of this order. Within the Paucituberculata we recognize two major clades: Caenolestoidea and Palaeothentoidea. We conclude that 'pseudodiprotodont' marsupials of the traditional literature (i.e. Polydolopimorphia + Paucituberculata) do not form a natural group.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Evolution of South American Paucituberculata (Metatheria: Marsupialia): adaptive radiation and climate changes at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary

The Eocene-Oligocene boundary (EOB) marks a period of remodeling in the metatherian faunas of South America. Paucituberculata was one of the groups that successfully diversified as the climate and environment conditions changed, and they became, during the first part of the Neogene, an important component of micromammal assemblages. Among paucituberculatans, the non-pichipilid palaeothentoids (NPP) has been recognized as the clade that diversified most widely in post-EOB times. Here we explore the evolutionary response of the NPP to the climatic-environmental changes around the EOB, by analysing the temporal patterns of disparity, taxonomic diversity and body mass in a phylogenetic context. To asses the magnitude of the NPP radiation comparisons based on these macroevolutionary parameters were done with its sister-group Pichipilidae, and its next closest relative, the Caenolestidae. In all considered parameters, NPP reached values significantly higher than the remaining paucituberculatans clades. From its initial diversification in the middle Eocene, taxonomic diversity increased through time, but it was decoupled from disparity across the EOB, and from the late Oligocene to early Miocene. The Oligocene emerges as the key period in NPP evolution, which is evidenced by a significant and concordant expansion of disparity and taxonomic diversity, suggesting evolution into empty ecospace.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse