Abstract
We describe isolated remains of a Paleogene cingulate from El Simbolar locality, Upper Lumbrera Formation (Bartonian), southern Salta Province, northwestern Argentina. The material consists of numerous fixed, movable, and caudal sheath osteoderms. The specimen has large-sized osteoderms, with a lageniform main figure, as in Utaetus buccatus, U. laxus, U. argos, ?U. deustus, Punatherium catamarcensis, and the basal euphractin Archaeutatus. The combination of morphological characters, in addition to its large size, allows us to recognize a new species of “Utaetini” for the Paleogene of northwestern Argentina. This new species of ?Utaetus represents the oldest record of Euphractinae in this region, and strengthens the endemic condition of its Paleogene faunas. Keywords: Cingulata, osteoderms, El Simbolar, Paleogene, Salta, Argentina.
Highlights
Cingulata are a diverse and relatively abundant group of eutherian mammals characteristic of the South American Cenozoic
We describe numerous fixed, movable, and caudal sheath osteoderms, all from the same individual, of a new large-sized Cingulata recovered at El Simbolar locality, Upper Lumbrera Formation, in southern Salta Province, northwestern Argentina (NWA)
Specimens used for comparison include Utaetus buccatus (MACN A-11622A, MPEF PV 5426), Utaetus laxus (MACN 10424, 11295), Utaetus argos (MACN 10445), ?Utaetus deustus (MACN 10431), Pucatherium parvum (PVL 6384, MHAS 068-072), Lumbreratherium oblitum (PVL 4262), Riostegotherium yanei (MCN-PV 1774), Astegotherium dichotomus (MACN A-10421), Stegosimpsonia chubutana (MACN A-10438), Pseudostegotherium glangeaudi (MACN A-12679), Parastegosimpsonia peruana (LACM 150608), Punatherium catamarcensis (MLP 93-VI-1-18, MLP 86V-6-24), Parutaetus punaensis (MLP 83-XI-3-2, MHAS 017–020, 029, PVL 6416, 6575, 6403, 6413–6415, 6407, 6417, 6568), Orthutaetus (MPEF PV 7633B), Anteutatus (MACN A-11621), Yuruatherium tropicalis (LACM 150606), and Archaeutatus malaspinensis (MACN A-10440)
Summary
In northwestern Argentina (NWA), several Paleogene geological units have produced a rich record of continental mammals (Río Loro, Mealla, Maíz Gordo, Lower Lumbrera, Upper Lumbrera, Casa Grande, Quebrada de los Colorados, and Geste formations), spanning from the Paleocene to the late Eocene (del Papa et al, 2017). Despite the abundant record of mammals (mainly South American native ungulates) in these units, the record of armadillos is sparse and limited to levels from the early to the late Eocene (Lower Lumbrera, Upper Lumbrera, Casa Grande, Quebrada de los Colorados, and Geste formations; Table 1) (Babot et al, 2012, 2017; Ciancio et al, 2016; Herrera & Powell, 2009; Herrera et al, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2019; Fernicola et al, 2021). We discuss the significance of these new findings within the evolutionary history of the group in the context of early Cenozoic faunal evolution in SA intermediate-latitudes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callDisclaimer: 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.
