Book contents
- Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia
- Frontispiece
- Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia
- 2 Tephrochronology of the Miocene Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formations, Argentina
- 3 Absolute and relative ages of fossil localities in the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formations
- 4 Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the Santa Cruz Formation
- 5 Oysters from the base of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) of Patagonia
- 6 Ichnology of distal overbank deposits of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene): paleohydrologic and paleoclimatic significance
- 7 Fossil plant studies from late Early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Formation: paleoecology and paleoclimatology at the passive margin of Patagonia, Argentina
- 8 Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina: paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations
- 9 Diversity and paleobiology of the Santacrucian birds
- 10 Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late Early Miocene of Patagonia
- 11 Paleoecology of the mammalian carnivores (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene)
- 12 Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata)
- 13 Paleobiology of the Santacrucian sloths and anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa)
- 14 Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata: Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata)
- 15 Paleobiology of Santacrucian caviomorph rodents: a morphofunctional approach
- 16 Paleobiology of Santacrucian primates
- 17 A review of the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation
- Index
8 - Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina: paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2013
- Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia
- Frontispiece
- Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia
- 2 Tephrochronology of the Miocene Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formations, Argentina
- 3 Absolute and relative ages of fossil localities in the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formations
- 4 Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the Santa Cruz Formation
- 5 Oysters from the base of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) of Patagonia
- 6 Ichnology of distal overbank deposits of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene): paleohydrologic and paleoclimatic significance
- 7 Fossil plant studies from late Early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Formation: paleoecology and paleoclimatology at the passive margin of Patagonia, Argentina
- 8 Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina: paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations
- 9 Diversity and paleobiology of the Santacrucian birds
- 10 Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late Early Miocene of Patagonia
- 11 Paleoecology of the mammalian carnivores (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene)
- 12 Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata)
- 13 Paleobiology of the Santacrucian sloths and anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa)
- 14 Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata: Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata)
- 15 Paleobiology of Santacrucian caviomorph rodents: a morphofunctional approach
- 16 Paleobiology of Santacrucian primates
- 17 A review of the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation
- Index
Summary
The herpetological diversity recorded in the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) is low when compared with that of birds and mammals. It includes the calyptocephalellid anuran Calyptocephalella, an indeterminate “leptodactylid,” indeterminate pleurodont iguanians (including those previously assigned to the extinct genus “Erichosaurus”), the tupinambine teiid Tupinambis, and indeterminate “colubrids.” The presence of Calyptocephalella in the Estancia La Costa locality represents its southernmost record and might indicate the occurrence of permanent lowland lakes, ponds, and quiet streams, possibly developed in a forested area. The presence of Tupinambis and “colubrids” at around 50° S represents the southernmost record in their respective evolutionary histories, suggesting warmer and probably more humid conditions in the late Early Miocene than those prevailing in southern Patagonia at present. Based upon the diets of extant Calyptocephalella and “colubrids” we consider the Santacrucian Miocene representatives to be small carnivorous vertebrates. Santacrucian pleurodont iguanians should be included in the insectivorous and/or herbivorous groups, whereas Tupinambis would have been a generalist omnivorous reptile.
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- Information
- Early Miocene Paleobiology in PatagoniaHigh-Latitude Paleocommunities of the Santa Cruz Formation, pp. 129 - 137Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2012
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