First record of Smilodon fatalis Leidy, 1868 (Felidae, Machairodontinae) in the extra-Andean region of South America (late Pleistocene, Sopas Formation), Uruguay: Taxonomic and paleobiogeographic implications. (15th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manzuetti, Aldo; Perea, Daniel; Ubilla, Martín; Rinderknecht, Andrés
• Is Part Of: Quaternary science reviews. Volume 180(2018)
• Page Start: 57
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2018-01-15
• Subjects: Pleistocene -- South America -- Smilodon fatalis -- Sopas Formation -- Uruguay; Geology, Stratigraphic -- Quaternary -- Periodicals; Stratigraphie -- Quaternaire -- Périodiques; 551.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.11.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3791

Abstract

Abstract: The Felidae are known in South America from the Ensenadan Stage/Age onwards. Among them, machairodonts of the genus Smilodon stand out. Three species are recognized, and all three are present on the continent: S. gracilis from the early-middle Pleistocene in north-east Venezuela; S. fatalis, found only in Lujanian sediments on the west side of the Andes (north-west of Peru and south-west of Ecuador); and S. populator, which inhabited the eastern part of the Andes during the Ensenadan and Lujanian. This distribution has led to the suggestion that the last two felids were allopatric during the Lujanian. Here, we report the first evidence of S. fatalis in the eastern part of the continent (Sopas Formation, late Pleistocene of Uruguay), based on an almost complete skull. This finding not only enlarges its distribution in South America but questions the idea of allopatric distribution. It also adds a new component to the mammalian predator trophic level of Uruguay, with the capacity to predate large South American herbivores and megaherbivores. A revision of materials previously assigned to S. populator in the extra-Andean zone of South America will be required. Highlights: We describe the skull of a saber-toothed cat from the late Pleistocene of Uruguay. We refer the specimen to Smilodon fatalis Leidy, 1868. It is the first record of this felid in the extra-Andean zone of the continent. The distribution patterns of South American smilodontins is reviewed. A revision of the materials of South American smilodontins is necessary.