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Eocene land mammals from Seymour Island, Antarctica: palaeobiogeographical implications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2004

S. A. Marenssi
Affiliation:
Instituto Antártico Argentino, Cerrito 1248, Buenos Aires, 1010, Argentina
M. A. Reguero
Affiliation:
Departamento Científico de Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, La Plata, 1900, Argentina
S. N. Santillana
Affiliation:
Instituto Antártico Argentino, Cerrito 1248, Buenos Aires, 1010, Argentina
S. F. Vizcaino
Affiliation:
Departamento Científico de Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, La Plata, 1900, Argentina

Abstract

Middle Eocene land mammals from La Meseta Formation, Seymour (Marambio) Island are reviewed. A taxonomically diverse fossil land-vertebrate assemblage with small and medium-size mammals has been recovered from four localities. The depositional setting is shallow marine and most of the mammal-bearing beds are in reworked, moderate to high energy subtidal facies. The characteristics of these mammals not only confirm but also strengthen the biogeographical relationships between southern South America (Patagonian Province) and the Antarctic Peninsula during the Paleogene and rule out the possibility of a major barrier between these areas. The Antarctic ungulates (Astrapotheria and ?Litopterna) are plesiomorphics in retaining low crowned cheek teeth and are more similar to those from the Pancasamayoran local faunas of southern South America (Patagonia).

Type
Review
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1994

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