Abstract

A model for the paleobiogeographic history of South American cricetine rodents is proposed based on new and/or recently published fossil, geological, paleobotanical and radioisotope data. Cricetine rodents of the tribe Sigmodontini evolved in North America before 7.0 Myr BP. They got to South America by waif dispersal across the Bolivar Trough marine barrier from Central America during a world wide drop in sea level (the “Messinian Low”) between 7.0 and 5.0 Myr BP. The basal stock was probably a sylvan (forest) form, from which evolved pastoral (grazing) forms in the savanna-grassland area of Venezuela, Colombia and the Guianas. The pastoral forms in the northern savanna-grassland area were restricted there until about 3.5 Myr BP. At that time there occurred the first glaciation in South America and consonant with glacial advance was a retraction of forest habitats and an expansion of savanna-grassland habitats. At that time the pastoral forms were able to disperse southward through a savanna-grassland corridor along the eastern foothills of the Andes and spread throughout the previously disjunct savanna-grasslands of Bolivia and Argentina. Cricetines are first recorded as fossil in the Monte Hermoso Fm. of Argentina which is about 3.5 Myr BP in age. The Panamanian land bridge came into existence about 3.0 Myr BP as indicated by the beginning of a major interchange of terrestrial faunas between the Americas, which was well underway by 2.7 Myr BP.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.