Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia
Cambridge University Press, 8/31/2012
EAN 9780521194617, ISBN10: 052119461X
Hardcover, 392 pages, 28.2 x 22.2 x 2.2 cm
Language: English
Coastal exposures of the Santa Cruz Formation in southern Patagonia have been a fertile ground for recovery of Early Miocene vertebrates for more than 100 years. This volume presents a comprehensive compilation of important mammalian groups which continue to thrive today. It includes the most recent fossil finds as well as important new interpretations based on ten years of fieldwork by the authors. A key focus is placed on the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment during the time of deposition in the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) between twenty and fifteen million years ago. The authors present the first reconstruction of what climatic conditions were like and present important new evidence of the geochronological age, habits and community structures of fossil bird and mammal species. Academic researchers and graduate students in paleontology, paleobiology, paleoecology, stratigraphy, climatology and geochronology will find this a valuable source of information about this fascinating geological formation.
List of contributors
Preface
1. Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia Sergio F. VizcaÃÂno, Richard F. Kay and M. Susana Bargo
2. Tephrochronology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation Michael E. Perkins, John G. Fleagle, Matthew T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adán A. Tauber and Maria T. Dozo
3. Tephrochronology and paleontology of the Santa Cruz and Pinturas Formation John G. Fleagle, Michael E. Perkins, Matthew T. Heitzler, Barbara Nash, Thomas M. Bown, Adán A. Tauber, Maria T. Dozo and Marcelo F. Tejedor
4. Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the Santa Cruz Formation Sergio Matheos and M. Sol Raigemborm
5. Oysters from the base of Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) of Patagonia Miguel Griffin and Ana Parras
6. Ichnology of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), at the coast between the Rio Gallegos and Rio Coyle Verónica Krapovickas
7. Fossil plant studies from late Early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Formation
paleoecology and paleoclimatology at the passive margin of Patagonia, Argentina Mariana Brea, Alejandro Zucol and Ari Iglesias
8. Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations Juan Carlos Fernicola and Adriana Albino
9. Diversity and paleobiology of the Santacrucian birds Federico Degrange, Jorge I. Noriega and Juan I. Areta
10. Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late Early Miocene of Patagonia M. Alejandra Abello, Edgardo Ortiz-Jaureguizar and Adriana M. Candela
11. Paleoecology of the mammalian carnivores (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) of the Santa Cruz Formation (late Early Miocene) Francisco Prevosti, AnalÃÂa M. Forasiepi, Marcos Ercoli and Guillermo F. Turazzini
12. Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata) Sergio F. VizcaÃÂno, Juan Carlos Fernicola and M. Susana Bargo
13. Paleobiology of the Santacrucian sloths and anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa) M. Susana Bargo, Néstor Toledo and Sergio F. VizcaÃÂno
14. Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata
Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata) Guillermo H. Cassini, Esperanza Cerdeño, AmalÃÂa Villafañe and Nahuel A. Muñoz
15. Paleobiology of Santacrucian Caviomorph rodents
a morpho-functional approach Adriana M. Candela, Luciano L. Rasia and MarÃÂa E. Pérez
16. The paleobiology of Santacrucian primates Richard F. Kay, Jonathan M. G. Perry, Michael Malinzak, Kari Allen, E. Christopher Kirk, J. Michael Plavcan and John G. Fleagle
17. A review of the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation Richard F. Kay, Sergio F. VizcaÃÂno and M. Susana Bargo
Index.
'Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals.' E. Delson, Choice