Tolomosa Formation

Tolomosa Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early-Middle Pleistocene 2.58–0.7 Ma
TypeFormation
Lithology
PrimarySiltstone, sandstone
Location
Coordinates21°30′S 64°45′E / 21.5°S 64.75°E / -21.5; 64.75
Approximate paleocoordinates21°36′S 64°12′E / 21.6°S 64.2°E / -21.6; 64.2
CountryBolivia
Type section
Named forTarija

The Tolomosa Formation, formerly known as 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. Numerous carnivorous mammals have been found, including Smilodon populator, Arctotherium tarijense, and Protocyon tarijensis. The uppermost portion of the formation is dated to the earliest Middle Pleistocene, dated to approximately 0.76±0.03 Ma and 0.72± 0.12 M based on Uranium–lead dating and helium dating respectively.

Paleofauna

Birds

Accipitriformes

Accipitriformes
GenusSpeciesFamilyIntervalNotes
Vultur V. gryphus Cathartidae Tarija Andean Condor

Mammals

Didelphimorphia

Accipitriformes
GenusSpeciesFamilyIntervalNotes
Lutreolina L. crassicaudata Didelphidae Tarija Big lutrine opossum

Cingulata

Cingulata
GenusSpeciesFamilyIntervalNotes
Euphractus E. sexcinctus Chlamyphoridae Tarija <Tarija Six-Banded Armadillo
Chaetophractus C. villosus Chlamyphoridae Tarija Big Hairy Armadillo
Dasypus D. tarijensis Dasypodidae Tarija
Propraopus P. cf. sulcatus Dasypodidae Tarija
Glyptodon G. reticulatus Glyptodontidae Tarija
Glyptodon life restoration
Panochthus P. sp Glyptodontidae Tarija
Pampatherium P. cf. humboldtii Pampatheriidae Tarija

Proboscidea

Proboscidea
GenusSpeciesFamilyIntervalNotesImages
Cuvieronius C. tropicus Gomphotheriidae Tarija
Cuvieronius hyodon

Carnivorans

Carnivora
GenusSpeciesFamilyIntervalNotes
Pseudalopex P. gymnocercus Canidae Tarija Pampas Fox
Aenocyon A.dirus Canidae Tarija Dire wolf
Chrysocyon C. brachyurus Canidae Tarija Maned wolf
Protocyon P.troglodytes Canidae Tarija
Nasua N.sp Procyonidae Tarija
A modern Nasua
Arctotherium A. angustidens Ursidae Tarija
A. tarijense Ursidae Tarija
A. wingei Ursidae Tarija
Conepatus C.suffocans Mephitidae Tarija An extinct hog-nosed skunk
Smilodon S.populator Felidae Tarija Saber-toothed cat
Restoration of the smilodon
Panthera P. onca Felidae Tarija Jaguar
Jaguar (Panthera onca) swimming
Herpailurus H. yagouaroundi Felidae Tarija Jaguarundi

Artiodactyla

Artiodactyla
GenusSpeciesFamilyIntervalNotesImages
Platygonus P. tarijensis. Tayassuidae Tarija
Charitoceros C. tarijensis. Cervidae Tarija
Hippocamelus H. incognituss. Cervidae Tarija
A Huemul, a living member of Hippocampus
Paleolama P. weddeli. Camelidae Tarija
Paleolama.
Lama L. provicugna Camelidae Tarija The Vicuña, a modern species of Llama
Group of vicuña in Arequipa Region, Peru

Meridiungulata

South American native ungulates
GenusSpeciesFamilyIntervalNotesImages
Macrauchenia M. patachonica. Macraucheniidae Tarija
Reconstruction of Macrauchenia patachonica running.
Toxodon T cf. platensis. Toxodontidae Tarija
Toxodon, London Natural History Museum

Perissodactyla

Perissodactyla
GenusSpeciesFamilyIntervalNotesImages
Tapirus T. tarijensis Tapiridae Tarija
Hippidion H. principale Equidae Tarija A browsing horse
Onohippidium reconstruction
H. devillei Equidae Tarija
Equus E. neogeus Equidae Tarija

References

  1. ↑ MacFadden, B.J.; Shockey, B.J. (1997). "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. ↑ MacFadden, Bruce J.; Zeitler, Peter K.; Anaya, Federico; Cottle, John M. (2013). "Middle Pleistocene age of the fossiliferous sedimentary sequence from Tarija, Bolivia". Quaternary Research. 79 (2): 268–273. doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2012.12.009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 "Paleobiology Database".
  5. ↑ Soibelzon, L.H.; Tonni, E.P.; Bond, M. (2005). "The fossil record of South American short-faced bears (Ursidae, Tremarctinae)". Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 20 (1–2): 105–113. Bibcode:2005JSAES..20..105S. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2005.07.005. Retrieved 2019-02-21.