Tarija Formation

Tarija
TypeFormation
Location
Coordinates-21.5,-64.75
Approximate paleocoordinates-21.6,-64.2
CountryBolivia
Type section
Named forTarija

The Tarija Formation is a Pleistocene-age geologic formation found near Tarija, Bolivia.

Background

Fossils of numerous large herbivorous mammals have been discovered, including toxodonts like Toxodon platensis, glyptodonts, ground sloths, and litopterns such as Macrauchenia patachonica.[1] Numerous carnivorous mammals have been found, including Smilodon populator, Arctotherium tarijense, and Protocyon tarijensis.[2]

Paleofauna

Birds

Accipitriformes

Accipitriformes
Genus Species Family Interval Notes
Vultur V. gryphus Cathartidae Tarija [3] Andean Condor

Mammals

Didelphimorphia

Accipitriformes
Genus Species Family Interval Notes
Lutreolina L. crassicaudata Didelphidae Tarija [3] Big lutrine opossum

Cingulata

Cingulata
Genus Species Family Interval Notes
Euphractus E. sexcinctus Chlamyphoridae Tarija <Tarija [3] Six-Banded Armadillo
Chaetophractus C. villosus Chlamyphoridae Tarija [3] Big Hairy Armadillo
Dasypus D. tarijensis Dasypodidae Tarija [3]
Propraopus P. cf. sulcatus Dasypodidae Tarija [3]
Glyptodon G. reticulatus Glyptodontidae Tarija [3]
Panochthus P. sp Glyptodontidae Tarija [3]
Pampatherium P. cf. humboldtii Pampatheriidae Tarija [3]

Proboscidea

Proboscidea
Genus Species Family Interval Notes Images
Cuvieronius C. tropicus Gomphotheriidae Tarija [3]

Carnivorans

Carnivora
Genus Species Family Interval Notes
Pseudalopex P. gymnocercus Canidae Tarija [3] Pampas Fox
Aenocyon A.dirus Canidae Tarija [3] Dire wolf
Chrysocyon C. brachyurus Canidae Tarija [3] Maned wolf
Protocyon P.troglodytes Canidae Tarija [3]
Nasua N.sp Procyonidae Tarija [3]
Arctotherium A.wingei Ursidae Tarija [3]
A. tarijense Ursidae Tarija [3]
Conepatus C.suffocans Mephitidae Tarija [3] An extinct hog-nosed skunk
Smilodon S.populator Felidae Tarija [3] Saber-toothed cat
Panthera P. onca Felidae Tarija [3] Jaguar
Herpailurus H. yagouaroundi Felidae Tarija [3] Jaguarundi


Artiodactyla

Artiodactyla
Genus Species Family Interval Notes Images
Platygonus P. tarijensis. Tayassuidae Tarija [3]
Charitoceros C. tarijensis. Cervidae Tarija [3]
Hippocamelus H. incognituss. Cervidae Tarija [3]
Paleolama P. weddeli. Camelidae Tarija [3]
Lama L. provicugna Camelidae Tarija [3] The Vicuña, a modern species of Llama

Meridiungulata

South American native ungulates
Genus Species Family Interval Notes Images
Macrauchenia M. patachonica. Macraucheniidae Tarija [3]
Toxodon T cf. platensis. Toxodontidae Tarija [3]

Perissodactyla

Perissodactyla
Genus Species Family Interval Notes Images
Tapirus T. tarijensis Tapiridae Tarija[3]
Hippidion H. principale Equidae Tarija [3] A browsing horse
H. devillei Equidae Tarija [3]
Equus E. neogeus Equidae Tarija [3]

References

  1. ^ MacFadden, B.J.; Shockey, B.J. (2016). "Ancient feeding ecology and niche differentiation of Pleistocene mammalian herbivores from Tarija, Bolivia: morphological and isotopic evidence". Paleobiology. 23 (1): 77-100. doi:10.1017/S0094837300016651. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  2. ^ Prevosti, F.J.; Forasiepi, A.M. (2018). "South American Fossil Carnivorans (Order Carnivora)". Evolution of South American Mammalian Predators During the Cenozoic: Paleobiogeographic and Paleoenvironmental Contingencies. Springer Geology. p. 77-100. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-03701-1_4. ISBN 978-3-319-03700-4. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af [1]