Novedoso hallazgo de egagrópilas para el Mioceno tardío de la provincia de Catamarca, Formación Andalhuala, Argentina

We report the finding of two fossil bird pellets recovered from outcrops of Andalhuala Formation (Late Miocene), Santa María valley, Catamarca province, Argentina.The pellets are composed by several microvertebrate fossil bones and teeth included in a sandy matrix. We interpret that these structures...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Nasif, Norma L., Esteban, Graciela Irene, Ortiz, Pablo Edmundo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2009
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/90773
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/90773
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Egagrópilas Fósiles
Aves Depredadoras
Micromamíferos
Mioceno Tardío
Noroeste Argentino
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Descripción
Sumario:We report the finding of two fossil bird pellets recovered from outcrops of Andalhuala Formation (Late Miocene), Santa María valley, Catamarca province, Argentina.The pellets are composed by several microvertebrate fossil bones and teeth included in a sandy matrix. We interpret that these structures were produced by the trophic activity of small predator, the "terror birds" (Phorusrhacidae, Psilopterinae), that lived in the area during the late Miocene. The pellets have centimetrical size scale, subovoid shape, and a highly calcareous matrix, and content highly concentrated and well preserved several cranial and postcranial fragmentary remains belonging to small rodents (Octodontidae and Cricetidae). Some long bones are nearly complete (diaphysis plus epiphyses),other bones are articulated and others are irregularly disposed. Some teeth show clear evidence of corrosion in enamel (pitting), due to digestive process of predators. This finding constitutes the oldest direct physic evidence of a bird pellet in South America and the oldest record of a cricetid rodent in this continent.