Contents

C
ix Preface

xi Acknowledgments

2 1. Time and Geography

9 2. Introduction to Mammals

Part I 20 3. Tiupampa, Bolivia 48 5. Gran Barranca, Argentina

Early South American 28 3.1 Pucadelphys andinus 52 5.1 Sebecus icaeorhinus
Phase and Trans- 30 3.2 Mayulestes ferox 54 5.2 Niolamia argentina and
Atlantic Dispersal 32 3.3 Molinodus suarezi Caroloameghinia mater
Interval (TADI) 34 3.4 Alcidedorbignya inopinata 56 5.3 Utaetus buccatus
58 5.4 Thomashuxleya rostrata
36 4. Itaboraí, Brazil 60 5.5 Notopithecus adapinus
40 4.1 Epidolops ameghinoi
42 4.2 Colbertia magellanica 62 6. La Gran Hondonada, Argentina
44 4.3 Protolipterna ellipsodontoides 66 6.1 Otronia muhlbergi
46 4.4 Carodnia vieirai 68 6.2 Pseudhyrax eutrachytheroides
70 6.3 Puelia plicata
72 6.4 Trigonostylops wortmani

Part II 74 7. Tinguiririca, Chile 134 11. La Venta, Colombia

Late South 80 7.1 Klohnia charrieri 138 11.1 Neotamandua borealis
American Phase 84 7.2 Pseudoglyptodon chilensis 140 11.2 Cebupithecia sarmientoi
86 7.3 Andemys termasi 142 11.3 Megadolodus molariformis and
88 7.4 Santiagorothia chiliensis Purussaurus neivensis
144 11.4 Miocochilius anamopodus
90 8. Salla, Bolivia 146 11.5 Granastrapotherium snorki
94 8.1 Paraborhyaena boliviana
96 8.2 Branisella boliviana 148 12. Quebrada Honda, Bolivia
98 8.3 Anayatherium fortis 152 12.1 Acyon myctoderos
100 8.4 Trachytherus alloxus 154 12.2 Hondalagus altiplanensis
102 8.5 Pyrotherium romeroi 156 12.3 Guiomys unica
158 12.4 Hemihegetotherium trilobus
104 9. Chucal, Chile
108 9.1 Parapropalaehoplophorus 160 13. Arroyo Chasicó, Argentina
septentrionalis 164 13.1 Protomegalonyx chasicoensis
110 9.2 Peltephilus ferox 166 13.2 Prolagostomus and Lycopsis
112 9.3 Theosodon lallemanti viverensis
114 9.4 Nesodon imbricatus 168 13.3 Neobrachytherium ullumense
116 9.5 Altitypotherium chucalensis 170 13.4 Chasicotherium rothi
172 13.5 Typotheriopsis chasicoensis
118 10. Santa Cruz, Argentina
122 10.1 Necrolestes patagonensis
124 10.2 Borhyaena tuberata
126 10.3 Hapalops indifferens
128 10.4 Steiromys duplicatus
130 10.5 Thoatherium minusculum
132 10.6 Interatherium robustum

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 Part III 174 14. Acre, Brazil
The Great American 180 14.1 Neoglyptatelus originalis
Biotic Interchange 182 14.2 Thalassocnus natans
(GABI) and the 184 14.3 Phoberomys burmeisteri
Interamerican Phase 186 14.4 Trigodon

188 15. Catamarca, Argentina

192 15.1 Andalgalornis steulleti
194 15.2 Thylacosmilus atrox
196 15.3 Vassallia maxima and Argentavis magnificens
198 15.4 Pronothrotherium typicum
200 15.5 Cyonasua brevirostris

202 16. Chapadmalal, Argentina

206 16.1 Sparassocynus derivatus
208 16.2 Macroeuphractus outesi
210 16.3 Scelidotherium parodii
212 16.4 Platygonus marplatensis
214 16.5 Paedotherium typicum

216 17. Tarija, Bolivia

220 17.1 Cuvieronius hyodon
222 17.2 Glyptodon reticulatus
224 17.3 Doedicurus clavicaudatus
226 17.4 Megatherium americanum
228 17.5 Protocyon tarijensis and Glossotherium tarijense
230 17.6 Smilodon populator
232 17.7 Onohippidium devillei
234 17.8 Macrauchenia patachonica
236 17.9 Toxodon platensis

239 Further Reading

Appendices 261 Appendix 1. Alphabetical List of Species

262 Appendix 2. Families and Higher Taxonomic Groups
265 Appendix 3. Mammals of Tiupampa, Bolivia
266 Appendix 4. Mammals of Itaboraí, Brazil
268 Appendix 5. Middle Eocene (“Barrancan”) Mammals of Gran Barranca, Argentina
270 Appendix 6. Mammals of La Gran Hondonada, Argentina
271 Appendix 7. Mammals of Tinguiririca, Chile
272 Appendix 8. Mammals of Salla, Bolivia
274 Appendix 9. Mammals of Chucal, Chile
274 Appendix 10. Mammals of Coastal Santa Cruz, Argentina
278 Appendix 11. Mammals of La Venta, Colombia
280 Appendix 12. Mammals of Quebrada Honda, Bolivia
282 Appendix 13. Mammals of Arroyo Chasicó, Argentina
284 Appendix 14. Mammals of Acre (Brazil and Peru)
285 Appendix 15. Mammals of Catamarca, Argentina
287 Appendix 16. Mammals of Chapadmalal, Argentina
289 Appendix 17. Mammals of Tarija, Bolivia

293 Glossary

299 Index

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 Preface
P
South America has a rich and fascinating fossil mammal
record, the best among Southern Hemisphere continents. Unfortunately,
most of these mammals are virtually unknown to the general public and
even many paleontologists. One reason for this is that many varied and
abundant groups left no living representatives or even close relatives. This
makes it is difficult to make definitive statements about the habits of these
mammals or even imagine what they may have looked like. Because most
of these groups were restricted to South America, only a few museums
outside that continent have specimens of them on display, and this has
further impeded awareness of them elsewhere.
I myself was almost completely ignorant of the marvelous mammals
of ancient South America until I undertook a Ph.D. thesis studying ex-
tinct species from Chile. Once I became familiar with them, I was struck
by how difficult it was for friends and family to relate to the animals I was
studying. I would describe these animals as small hoofed mammals that
were not closely related to cows or horses and may have resembled large
rodents more than anything else. That description usually just confused
things or resulted in a shift in conversation. I realized that it was impos-
sible for most people to identify with these animals without accurate
reconstructions of how they may have appeared in life and accessible
information about the roles they filled in ancient ecosystems.
The aim of this book is to provide the reader with a compelling but
understandable summary of the extraordinary diversity of extinct South
American mammals. I begin by briefly discussing the geography and
main groups of South American mammals in the first two sections. I then
highlight several species (primarily mammals) at each of 15 particularly
well known paleontological sites. These sites were chosen because they
span the so-called Age of Mammals (the Cenozoic Era, the last 66 mil-
lion years), are distributed throughout much of the continent, and have
produced important fossils of extinct species. The appendices of this
book provide additional information about these sites and their extinct
animals. Appendix 1 is an alphabetical list of the species reconstructed
in this book. Appendix 2 is a comprehensive classification of families and
higher taxonomic groups that are mentioned. This appendix also notes
which families are represented by life reconstructions and discussed in
greater detail. Appendices 3–17 list the mammal species that have been
found at each of the sites highlighted in this book. These lists include
relevant citations from the scientific literature.

ix

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 Most of the life reconstructions in this book are of single mammal
species, but some include two species and/or a bird or reptile. Each re-
construction is accompanied by a succinct description of the animal’s
habits and characteristics and basic information about it including:
(1) size; (2) ecological characteristics; (3) evolutionary relationships; and
(4) the meaning of its scientific name. Size estimates for each species
were taken from the scientific literature or calculated firsthand based
on fossil remains or those of closely related species (see also chapter 2).
Ecological characteristics mainly focus on locomotion and diet, whereas
evolutionary relationships provide some idea of how the species is clas-
sified (see also appendix 2). Intended meanings of scientific names were
taken directly from the original publication on the species, though for
many species (particularly those named by Florentino Ameghino), the
author provided no explicit justification for why the name was chosen.
In such cases, I have attempted to deduce the intended meaning based
on Greek and Latin roots and other information. Most reconstructions
are accompanied by at least one photo of a fossil or modern specimen (or
cast) that illustrates a particular aspect of anatomy discussed in the text.
“Further Reading” includes an annotated list of relevant publications that
should be consulted for additional information about the sites, species,
and other topics discussed in this book. The glossary can be consulted
for definitions of terms highlighted in bold in the text.
The life reconstructions of extinct species in this book were skillfully
executed by Velizar Simeonovski and result from extensive discussions
between Velizar and me about the possible appearance and habits of
each species. In many cases, these reconstructions are based on closely
related species that are known from more complete remains rather than
the species recorded at a particular site. For each species, we inferred
external characteristics such as hair color and length based on its pre-
sumed ecological adaptations as well as its living relatives (when possible).
Each species has been depicted in an appropriate environment in terms
of climate and general vegetation structure (e.g., forest or savanna), but
the plants are not necessarily those that would have been present in the
area at the time.
It is my hope that the walk through time provided by these “snap-
shots” of ancient South American mammals and their communities will
engender a wider and deeper appreciation of the splendidly unique mam-
mals that once called the continent home.

x Preface

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