Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia
High-Latitude Paleocommunities of the Santa Cruz Formation

A comprehensive compilation of important mammalian groups of the Santa Cruz Formation fossils, for academic researchers and graduate students.

Sergio F. Vizcaíno (Edited by), Richard F. Kay (Edited by), M. Susana Bargo (Edited by)

9781108445771, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 March 2018

378 pages, 125 b/w illus. 41 tables
28 x 21.6 x 1.9 cm, 0.98 kg

'The massive collaborative effort of scientists from so many locations and institutions to produce this book must be commended and celebrated. This publication is a must for any student of South American vertebrate palaeontology.' Aryeh Grossman, The Quarterly Review of Biology

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. Vizcaíno, 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, Analía M. Forasiepi, Marcos Ercoli and Guillermo F. Turazzini
12. Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata) Sergio F. Vizcaíno, 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. Vizcaíno
14. Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata: Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata) Guillermo H. Cassini, Esperanza Cerdeño, Amalía Villafañe and Nahuel A. Muñoz
15. Paleobiology of Santacrucian Caviomorph rodents: a morpho-functional approach Adriana M. Candela, Luciano L. Rasia and María 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. Vizcaíno and M. Susana Bargo
Index.

Subject Areas: Palaeontology [RBX], Earth sciences [RB], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R]