A group of Argentine scientists discovered a new species of prehistoric mammal. The animal was herbivorous and, according to the analysis, lived approximately 18 million years ago in the Puna region of Catamarca.
The discovery was published in the international journal Journal of Systematic Palaontology by specialists from CONICET from different parts of Argentina.
New prehistoric species that lived in Catamarca
This discovery provides valuable insights into the Mesotheriidae family, a group of ungulates that prevailed in the continent’s fauna during the Miocene. That is, around 23 to 5 million years ago.
This would be the prehistoric animal. (Photo: CONICET).
The researcher from the Superior Institute of Geological Correlation (INSUGEO, CONICET-UNT), MatÃas Armella, who participated in the project, confirmed that the creature weighed up to 15 kilograms.
All this was concluded from the paleontological finding of the fossil. According to the study, it fed on hard leaves and was a specialist in digging and gnawing.
“What we found is an almost complete palate with well-preserved teeth that presents a mosaic of unique characteristics, shared with both ancient mesotheriids and modern ones,” detailed the researcher in an official statement.
What the Mesotheriidae family was like
According to the national scientific organization, the Mesotheriidae family was composed of a variety of extinct herbivorous mammals.
According to records, they inhabited South America from approximately 30 million years ago until their extinction, about 70,000 years ago.
They were animals distinguished by a remarkable morphological diversity, with features that combined traits of rodents, such as the capybara, and marsupials, like wombats.
What the megatherium family was like. (Photo: Wikipedia).
“Extravagant”: this was the fossil discovery
The fossil was discovered by geologists Julieta Suriano, Andrés Echaurren, and Lucas Lothari, from the Argentine Institute of Snow, Glaciology, and Environmental Sciences (IANIGLA, CONICET-UNCUYO).
It was found during a geological survey in the Potrero Grande Formation, in a mountainous geographical area that rises above 3900 meters in altitude.
They assigned it the scientific name of Ichhutherium wayra, referring to the climatic conditions typical of the Andean region where the discovery occurred. The words combine two terms from the Quechua language: ichhu, which means low pastures or puna grass; and wayra, which alludes to the wind. Therium, which translated from Greek means beast.
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