A new late Pleistocene ichnological site with mammal footprints from Brazil. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oliveira, Édison V.; Bélo, Pétrius S.; Fambrini, Gelson L.; Sial, Alcides N.; Silva, Ana K.B.; Barreto, Alcina M.F.
• Is Part Of: Journal of South American earth sciences. Volume 94(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: Quaternary -- Mammals -- Fluvial deposit -- Footprints -- Paleoecology; Geology -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Geology -- Antarctica -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Antarctica -- Periodicals; Geology -- Caribbean Area -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Caribbean Area -- Periodicals; Géologie -- Amérique latine -- Périodiques; Sciences de la terre -- Amérique latine -- Périodiques; Géologie -- Antarctique -- Périodiques; Sciences de la terre -- Antarctique -- Périodiques; Géologie -- Caraïbes (Région) -- Périodiques; Sciences de la terre -- Caraïbes (Région) -- Périodiques; Earth sciences; Geology; Antarctica; Caribbean Area; Latin America; Periodicals; 550.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsames.2019.102216
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-9811

Abstract

Abstract: Pleistocene sites with mammals in Brazil are commonly recorded from limestone or dolomite caves, outcrops at rivers and creeks, coastal plain lagoon deposits, rock shelters, and natural tanks. This work presents a new late Pleistocene site containing bones and footprints of mammals. The footprints are assigned to llama ( Lamaichnum ), cervid ( Pecoripeda ), horse ( Hippipeda ), and at least one megamammal (? Toxodon ), constituting the northernmost record for the late Pleistocene of South America and the first record from Brazil. Mammals are related to fluvial environments along with treeless vegetation during a sub-humid climate, in a region currently dominated by a semiarid biome. Highlights: We describe for the first time a late Pleistocene paleontological site for Brazil containing mammal footprints. The ichnofossils were assigned to llama ( Lamaichnum ), cervid ( Pecoripeda ), horse (Hippipeda), and ? Toxodon . The mammals are indicative of the presence of fluvial environments along with treeless vegetation during a sub-humid event.