Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia: High-Latitude Paleocommunities of the Santa Cruz Formation

by Edited by Sergio F. Vizcaíno , Richard F. Kay , M. Susana Bargo

• ISBN13: 9780521194617
• ISBN10: 052119461X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-11-26
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Coastal exposures of the Santa Cruz Formation in southern Patagonia have been a fertile ground for recovery of Early Miocene vertebrates for more than 100 years. This volume presents a comprehensive compilation of important mammalian groups which continue to thrive today. It includes the most recent fossil finds as well as important new interpretations based on 10 years of fieldwork by the authors. A key focus is placed on the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment during the time of deposition in the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) between 20 and 15 million years ago. The authors present the first reconstruction of what climatic conditions were like and present important new evidence of the geochronological age, habits and community structures of fossil bird and mammal species. Academic researchers and graduate students in paleontology, paleobiology, paleoecology, stratigraphy, climatology and geochronology will find this a valuable source of information about this fascinating geological formation.

Table of Contents

List of contributors

Preface

Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia Sergio F. Vizcaíno, Richard

Tephrochronology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation

Tephrochronology and paleontology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation

Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the Santa Cruz Formation Sergio Matheos and M. Sol Raigemborm

Oysters from the base of Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) of Patagonia Miguel Griffin and Ana Parras

Ichnology of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), at the coast between the Rio Gallegos and Rio Coyle Verónica Krapovickas

Fossil plant studies from late Early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Formation: paleoecology and paleoclimatology at the passive margin of Patagonia, Argentina Mariana Brea, Alejandro Zucol and Ari Iglesias

Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina: paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations Juan Carlos Fernicola and Adriana Albino

Diversity and paleobiology of the Santacrucian birds Federico Degrange, Jorge I. Noriega

Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late Early Miocene of Patagonia M. Alejandra Abello, Edgardo Ortiz-Jaureguizar

Paleoecology of the mammalian carnivores (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) Francisco Prevosti, Analía M. Forasiepi, Marcos Ercoli

Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata) Sergio F. Vizcaíno, Juan Carlos Fernicola and M. Susana Bargo

Paleobiology of the Santacrucian sloths and anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa) M. Susana Bargo, Néstor Toledo and Sergio Vizcaíno

Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata: Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata)

Paleobiology of Santacrucian Caviomorph rodents: a morpho-functional approach

The paleobiology of Santacrucian primates

A review of the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.