Platygonus sp. (Mammalia: Tayassuidae) in Uruguay (Raigón? Formation; Pliocene–early Pleistocene), comments about its distribution and palaeoenvironmental significance in South America

Abstract

This study provides the first record of Platygonus in Uruguay (Raigón? Formation, Pliocene–early Pleistocene; Canelones Department). The allocation to the Raigón Formation is tentative because the remains were found in a drill core. It is the oldest record of a tayassuid in Uruguay. The following morphological features clearly indicate that it belongs to Platygonus: simple premolars that are bicuspid, bunolophodont, mesodont and with an enamel cingulum surrounding the entire tooth. This is one of the largest forms among North American and South American Platygonus. The record of Platygonus in the Raigón Formation suggests arid or semi-arid climates, and, as do some associated birds and mammals, open or relatively open environments. A significant level of specific diversity of Platygonus in South America is recognized during the late Pliocene with the lowest diversity occurring during the early–middle Pleistocene.

Keywords:

• Tayassuidae
• fossil peccaries
• palaeoenvironments
• South America

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Cecilia Morgan for improving the English version; the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). The authorities of palaeontological collections of Museo de La Plata (Dr Marcelo Reguero and Lic. Lucas Pomi), Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia” (Dr A. Kramarz), colección Paleontología de Vertebrados de la Facultad de Ciencias, Uruguay (MSc A. Rojas), Museo Municipal de Mar del Plata (A. Dondas) and Florida Museum of Natural History (Dr R. Hulbert) for providing material for analysis. Two anonymous reviewers and associated editor provided significant suggestions to improve the manuscript. This work was partially funded by grants PR-FCE-2009-1-2398 and CSIC-828-102.

Notes

¹The first spelling was actually “Platigonus”, but there is sufficient indication that this was a misprint. The name is differently misprinted (Platydonus) in another paper by Le Conte, published almost simultaneously. “Platygonus is now universally used and may be retained” (Simpson 1945: 146) (see Mc Kenna and Bell 1997). See also the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999), Articles 32 and 33.

² According to Mones (1986) Listriodon Von Meyer 1846

³ Proposed as subgenus of Platygonus.