Sudamerica
Sudamerica | |
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Mandible with first and second molars | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Family: | †Sudamericidae |
Genus: | †Sudamerica & , 1984 |
Species: | †S. ameghinoi
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Binomial name | |
†Sudamerica ameghinoi ( & , 1984)
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Location of Sudamerica discovery: Punta Peligro, Argentina |
Sudamerica, literally "South America" in Spanish, is a genus of mammal from the extinct suborder Gondwanatheria that lived in Patagonia, Argentina () and Antarctica (La Meseta Formation) from the Middle Paleocene (Peligran), just after the end of the "Age of Dinosaurs", to the Early Eocene (Casamayoran).[1]
Etymology[]
The genus and species were named by Scillato-Yané and R. Pascual in 1984. The genus is also known by the synonym Sudamericana and the species epithet ameghinoi refers to notable Argentinian paleontologist Florentino Ameghino.
Description[]
Similar to Gondwanatherium, this genus had high-crowned teeth, which are very useful for eating grasses. Since there is no evidence of grass in South America until later, they must also have been effective for other types of food.
Classification[]
The type specimen of Sudamerica ameghinoi was discovered in , Argentina in deposits dating to the Lower Paleocene period. In 1999, a near complete lower jaw (dentary) was found.
The position of gondwanatherians within the class Mammalia is not yet clear.
References[]
- ^ Sudamerica at Fossilworks.org
Further reading[]
- Scillato-Yané, G.J. & Pascual, R.1985. Un peculiar Xenarthra del Paleoceno medio de Patagonia (Argentina). Su importancia en la sistemática de los Paratheria. Ameghiniana, 21: 316–318.
- Malcolm C. McKenna and Susan K. Bell. (1997) "Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level". Columbia University Press. (ISBN 0-231-11012-X)
- Much of this information has been derived from MESOZOIC MAMMALS: Gondwanatheria, an Internet directory.
- Gondwanatheres
- Paleocene mammals
- Paleogene Antarctica
- Fossils of Antarctica
- Paleocene mammals of South America
- Cenozoic animals of Antarctica
- Casamayoran
- Riochican
- Itaboraian
- Peligran
- Paleogene Argentina
- Fossils of Argentina
- Fossil taxa described in 1984
- Taxa named by Gustavo Juan Scillato-Yané
- Taxa named by Rosendo Pascual
- Prehistoric mammal stubs