Neolicaphrium

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Neolicaphrium
Temporal range: Late Pliocene-Early Holocene
(Chapadmalalan-Lujanian
~4.0–0.011  Ma
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Neolicaphrium recens right hemimandible 2.jpg
Right hemimandible of N. recens
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order:† Litopterna
Family:† Proterotheriidae
Subfamily:† Proterotheriinae
Genus:† Neolicaphrium
Frenguelli 1921
Type species
†Neolicaphrium recens
Frenguelli 1921
Species
  • N. majorSoria 2001 [1]
  • N. recensFrenguelli 1921 (type) [2]

Neolicaphrium is an extinct genus of ungulate mammal belonging to the extinct order Litopterna. This animal lived from the Late Pliocene (Chapadmalalan) to the Late Pleistocene (Lujanian) in southern South America, being the last survivor of the family Proterotheriidae.

Contents

Species

Fossil locations of N. recens Neolicaphrium recens fossil locations.jpg
Fossil locations of N. recens

The genus includes two species, the type species N. recens and N. major. The fossil found of N. major, one jaw, come from the Miramar Formation in Chapadmalal, Argentina and correspond to the Chapadmalalan mammal age of South America (4.0 to 3.0 million years ago, in the Pliocene). N. recens appeared in the Ensenadan age (1.2-0.8 million years ago) and the species survived until the Lujanian age (800,000 and 11,000 years ago). Fossils of this species have been found in the Argentine provinces of the northeast, in Córdoba, Corrientes, Tezzanos Pinto Formation, Santa Fe and Santiago del Estero, [3] in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and the Sopas Formation of the Salto Department in Uruguay. [4] N. recens is known from a partial skull, partial jaws, teeth and bones of the ankle and the forefeet. [5] A fragmentary humerus, previously assigned to the doubtful species "Proterotherium berroi", could also be referred to this species. [6]

Description

Teeth of N. recens, Sopas Formation Neolicaphrium recens teeth, Sopas Formation, Uruguay.jpg
Teeth of N. recens, Sopas Formation

Neolicaphrium was a proterotherid of small (N. recens) to medium (N. major) size. N. recens, weighing about 37 kilograms was one third smaller than N. major. In general terms, Neolicaphrium resembled Thoatherium of the Miocene, one of the most famous proterotherids, by its relatively graceful build adapted to a cursorial locomotion, although without presenting the extreme monodactyly that characterizes Thoatherium, so that still retained its three fingers in each hand and foot. Similar to the smaller deer of today, such as the pudus, the pampas deer and the muntjac, Neolicaphrium was a browsing herbivore. The isotopic analysis of the fossils indicates that Neolicaphrium fed mainly on fruits and to a lesser extent on terrestrial plants that grew at ground level, and that leaves were only a very limited part of their diet. [7]

The composition of the fauna of the Sopas Formation in Uruguay, where fossils of N. recens from the late Pleistocene have been found, [8] indicates that Neolicaphrium was a resident of savannahs and open tree forests. The rocks of the Sopas Formation were deposited in a gallery forest with rivers and Neolicaphrium lived there along with other mammals such as tapirs, the white-lipped peccary, the prehensile tail porcupine Coendou magnus , the capybara, the jaguar and the otter, species that characterize the tropical forest areas of South America. [9]

Classification

The genus Neolicaphrium was first described in 1921 by Frenguelli, based on incomplete remains found in Argentina. The type species, Neolicaphrium recens, is typical of Upper Pliocene - Upper Pleistocene deposits of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, while the species N. major was found in Pliocene soils of Argentina.

Neolicaphrium is the last of the proterotheres, a group of litoptern mammals with shapes similar to equids, particularly with regard to leg structure. Neolicaphrium, in any case, was not the most specialized proterothere.

Extinction

Previously it was thought that the family Proterotheriidae became extinct during the Pliocene, as a consequence of the climatic changes that occurred in the transition to the Pleistocene, along with the pachyrukhine notoungulates and the argyrolagid metatherians. The fossil record of N. recens however, showed that this group survived until the late Pleistocene in forest areas, outside the typical Pampa regions of the Southern Cone that were predominant during the Quaternary ice ages; However, this idea was rejected until the 21st century, when the new fossil finds allowed to corroborate its presence in the Pleistocene. In the Sopas Formation have been found also fossils of several types of deer (Pampas deer and an extinct form). [10] Neolicaphrium therefore coexisted throughout the Pleistocene with ungulate mammals of holarctic origin. Both competition with these animals, which reached South America during the Great American Biotic Interchange, and the environmental changes occurring since the end of the Miocene, which led to the disappearance of forest areas, may have contributed the decline and extinction of proterotherids. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Litopterna</span> Extinct order of hoofed mammals

Litopterna is an extinct order of South American native ungulates that lived from the Paleocene to the end of the Pleistocene-early Holocene around 63 million-12,000 years ago, and were also present in Antarctica during the Eocene. They represent the second most diverse group of South American ungulates after Notoungulata. It is divided into nine families, with Proterotheriidae and Macraucheniidae being the most diverse and last surviving families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinomyidae</span> Family of rodents

The Dinomyidae are a family of South American hystricognath rodents: the dinomyids were once a very speciose group, but now contains only a single living species, the pacarana. Several of the extinct dinomyids were among the largest rodents known to date; these included the bison-sized Josephoartigasia monesi and the smaller Josephoartigasia magna. The dinomyids are thought to have occupied ecological niches associated with large grazing mammals due to their ability to compete with the native ungulates of South America. On the other side, they could feed on aquatic or swampy plants along the ancient rivers. These large forms disappeared after the formation of a connection to North America. The modern pacarana is only modest in size, considerably smaller than the capybara.

<i>Macrauchenia</i> Extinct genus of litopterns

Macrauchenia is an extinct genus of large ungulate native to South America from the late Pliocene to the end of the Pleistocene. It is a member of the extinct order Litopterna, a group of South American native ungulates distinct from the two orders which contain all living ungulates which had been present in South America since the early Cenozoic, over 60 million years ago, prior to the arrival of living ungulates in South America around 2.5 million years ago as part of the Great American Interchange. The bodyform of Macrauchenia has been described as similar to a camel, being one of the largest known litopterns, with an estimated body mass of around 1 tonne. The genus gives its name to its family, Macraucheniidae, which like Macrauchenia typically had long necks and three toed feet, as well a retracted nasal region, which in Macrauchenia manifests as the nasal opening being on the top of the skull behind the eye sockets. This has historically been argued to correspond to the presence of a tapir-like proboscis, but some recent authors suggest a moose-like prehensile lip or a saiga antelope-like nose to filter dust are more likely.

<i>Scalabrinitherium</i> Extinct genus of litopterns

Scalabrinitherium is an extinct genus of mammals of the family Macraucheniidae. Fossils of this animal were found among the fossils of prehistoric xenarthrans in the Ituzaingó Formation of Argentina.

<i>Devincenzia</i> Extinct genus of birds

Devincenzia is an extinct genus of giant flightless predatory birds in the family Phorusrhacidae or "terror birds" that lived during the Early Miocene (Deseadan) Fray Bentos Formation of Uruguay, Late Miocene (Huayquerian) Ituzaingó Formation, Early Pliocene (Montehermosan) of Argentina, and possibly the Early Pleistocene Raigón Formation of Uruguay. The type species D. pozzi was formerly known as Onactornis pozzi. The largest possible specimen weighed up to 350 kilograms (770 lb), making it one of the largest phorusrhacids and carnivorous birds known.

<i>Arctotherium</i> Extinct genus of bears

Arctotherium is an extinct genus of the Pleistocene short-faced bears endemic to Central and South America. Arctotherium migrated from North America to South America during the Great American Interchange, following the formation of the Isthmus of Panama during the late Pliocene. The genus consists of one early giant form, A. angustidens, and several succeeding smaller species, which were within the size range of modern bears. Arctotherium was adapted to open and mixed habitat. They are genetically closer to the spectacled bear, than to Arctodus of North America, implying the two extinct forms evolved large size in a convergent manner.

Lestobradys is an extinct genus of ground sloth, which existed in Uruguay during the Late Miocene period; Huayquerian in the South American land mammal age (SALMA). The type species is L. sprechmanni, found in the Camacho Formation of Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proterotheriidae</span> Extinct family of litopterns

Proterotheriidae is an extinct family of litoptern ungulates known from the Eocene-Late Pleistocene of South America. Members of the group were small-medium sized cursorial herbivores with brachydont teeth, with their toes showing progressive reduction, with later members of the group bearing weight on a single large toe similar to living horses.

<i>Diplasiotherium</i> Extinct genus of litopterns

Diplasiotherium is an extinct genus of litoptern belonging to the family Proterotheriidae, that lived between the late Miocene and the early Pliocene. The fossils of this animal have been found in Argentina, in the Monte Hermoso Formation.

Charruatoxodon is an extinct monotypic genus of notoungulate belonging to the family Toxodontidae. It lived from the Pliocene to the Early Pleistocene in what is now southern Uruguay. Its remains have been found in the San José member of the Raigón Formation, near Montevideo.

Proterotherium is an extinct genus of litoptern mammal of the family Proterotheriidae that lived during the Late Miocene of Argentina and Chile. Fossils of this genus have been found in the Ituzaingó Formation of Argentina, and the Galera Formation of Chile.

Uruguayodon is an extinct genus of proterotheriid from the middle Pleistocene of Uruguay. It is known from the type and only species U. alius, named by Corona and colleagues in 2019 for dentaries and a partial postcrania from the Raigón Formation. Uruguayodon represents one of the latest occurrences of Proterotheriidae, with only Neolicaphrium representing other remains from the Pleistocene to possibly Holocene.

Brachytherium is an extinct genus of proterotheriid mammal from the Late Miocene to Late Pliocene of Argentina. It is represented by the type and only species B. cuspidatum, a taxon named in 1883 by Ameghino for a partial mandible with teeth. Though it was considered a dubious taxon at times, Brachytherium was revised as valid by Schmidt in 2015, who also synonymized the species Proterotherium gradatum and Lophogonodon paranensis, expanding the material known, all of which is from the Ituzaingó Formation. Some material previously referred to Brachytherium has been given the new name Neobrachytherium.

Pseudobrachytherium is an extinct genus of proterotheriid from the Late Miocene of Uruguay. It is only known from the type species P. breve, named in 2020 by Corona and colleagues for an almost complete skull found in the greenish pelite of the San Pedro member of the Camacho Formation, which is Huayquerian in age. The genus name is derived from the similarity to the proterotheriid Brachytherium at first glance, with the species name from the Latin for "short", referencing the short groove on the rear of the second molars.

<i>Tetramerorhinus</i> Extinct genus of litopterns

Tetramerorhinus is an extinct genus of proterotheriid litoptern that lived during the Early and Middle Miocene in what is now Argentina and Peru.

Macraucheniopsis is an extinct genus of litoptern mammal belonging to the family Macraucheniidae from the Middle to Late Pleistocene of Argentina. It, along with Macrauchenia, Neolicaphrium, and Xenorhinotherium were among the youngest known genera of litopterns.

The Sopas Formation is a Lujanian geologic formation in Uruguay.

The Raigón Formation is a geologic formation in Uruguay dated between the Pliocene and Middle Pleistocene.

The Camacho Formation is a Huayquerian geologic formation in Uruguay.

References

  1. ↑ Soria, M.F. 2001. Los Proterotheriidae (Litopterna, Mammalia), sistemática, origen y filogenia. Monografías del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, 1:1-167
  2. ↑ Frenguelli, J. 1921. Sobre un proterotérido del Pampeano superior de Córdoba, Neolicaphrium recens, nov. Actas de la Academia Nacional de Ciencias en Córdoba, 7:7-23
  3. ↑ Gaudioso et al., 2017, p.24
  4. ↑ Scherer, C.; Pitana, V.; Ribeiro, A. M. (2009). "Proterotheriidae and Macraucheniidae (Litopterna, Mammalia) from the Pleistocene of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil". Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia. 12 (3): 231–246. doi: 10.4072/rbp.2009.3.06 .
  5. ↑ Ubilla, M.; Perea, D.; Bond, M.; Rinderknecht, A. (2011). "The first cranial remains of the Pleistocene proterotheriid Neolicaphrium Frenguelli, 1921 (Mammalia, Litopterna): a comparative approach". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 31 (1): 193–201. Bibcode:2011JVPal..31..193U. doi:10.1080/02724634.2011.539647. S2CID   84000052.
  6. ↑ Corona, Andrea; Perea, Daniel; Ubilla, Martín (2018-12-19). "The Humerus of Proterotheriidae (Mammalia, Litopterna) and Its Systematic Usefulness: The Case of "Proterotherium berroi" Kraglievich, 1930". Ameghiniana. 55 (2): 150–161. doi:10.5710/AMGH.10.12.2017.3148. ISSN   0002-7014. S2CID   133665673.
  7. ↑ Morosi, E., & Ubilla, M. (2017). Dietary and palaeoenvironmental inferences in Neolicaphrium recens Frenguelli, 1921 (Litopterna, Proterotheriidae) using carbon and oxygen stable isotopes (Late Pleistocene; Uruguay). Historical Biology, 1-7.
  8. ↑ Corona et al., 2019, p.158
  9. ↑ Bond, M., Perea, D., Ubilla, M., & Tauber, A. (2001). Neolicaphrium recens Frenguelli, 1921, the only surviving Proterotheriidae (Litopterna, Mammalia) into the South American Pleistocene. Palaeovertebrata, 30(1-2), 37-50.
  10. ↑ Ubilla, M., Perea, D., Rinderknecht, A., & Corona, A. (2009). Pleistocene mammals from Uruguay: biostratigraphic, biogeographic and environmental connotations. Quaternário do Rio Grande do Sul (Ribeiro, AM, Bauermann, SG & Scherer, Eds.) Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontología, Porto Alegre, 217-230.
  11. ↑ Bond, M., Ortiz-Jaureguizar, E., & Villafañe, A. L. (2006). Cambios en la riqueza taxonómica y en las tasas de primera y última aparición de los Proterotheriidae (Mammalia, Litopterna) durante el Cenozoico. Estudios Geológicos, 62(1), 155-166.

Bibliography

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