The Deseado Formation of PatagoniaLoomis, Frederic Brewster
Science
The Deseado Formation of Patagonia
Loomis, Frederic Brewster
Paleontology -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
In my specimen, the two anterior rows of movable plates lack the
marginal piliferous pits, on the next two rows they are rudimentary
(which is also true of the lateral plates even further back), while
on the bulk of the movable plates and on those of the pelvic buckler
there are two, three or four good-sized piliferous pits on the rear.
I can therefore recognize but two species, _P. impressus_ and _P.
tenuissimus_.
=Prozaedius impressus= Ameghino
P. impressus Amegh., 1897, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t. 18, p. 508.
P. planus Amegh., 1897, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t. 18, p. 509.
Our specimen was found on the Chico del Chubut River, west of Puerto
Visser, and preserves over two hundred plates, and eight caudal
vertebrae. The anterior rows of plates of the carapace consist of
thin plates overlapping about a fourth their length. Just behind
the overlap, there is, on each, a group of small punctations, and
the exposed part of the surface is divided by two shallow furrows,
making three more or less equal ridges which die out toward the rear,
leaving the posterior part of the plate plain. These most anterior
plates are bent to one side and have no piliferous pits on the rear
margin. The plates of the third and fourth rows are not bent, and
have the sculpture more distinct, the extreme lateral plates having
no piliferous pits, the median lateral plates with rudimentary
piliferous pits, and the dorsal ones with well marked posterior pits.
In each succeeding row toward the rear, the plates are more distinctly
ornamented and have larger posterior marginal pits. I have no marginal
plates.
[Illustration: Fig. 132. Portion of carapace—natural size; unshaded
plates are from cast; _a_ and _b_ plates from pelvic buckler.]
The plates of the pelvic buckler do not overlap, are shorter, have a
very distinct figure, and, in addition to the longitudinal furrows,
have a couple of radial furrows on either side, which divide the plate
into four or five areas (see fig. 132 a and b).
The caudal vertebrae are short and thick, indicating a short tail. I
found no plates which would indicate a caudal shield, which coincides
with the experience among the Santa Cruz specimens. The figures are to
scale and give most of the measurements.
There are ten rows of movable plates, probably two to three rows
lacking.
There are twenty + plates to a row.
A typical movable plate measures 17 mm. long by 6 mm. wide.
There were at least four rows in the pelvic buckler, probably eight as
in the Santa Cruz.
A typical fixed plate measures 10 mm. long by 5 mm. wide.
=Prozaedius tenuissimus= Ameghino
P. tenuissimus Amegh., 1902, Bol. Acad. Nac. Cienc. Cordoba, t. 17, p.
66.
This species is characterized by Ameghino on account of its small size.
The movable plates have two furrows which converge toward the front,
and between which is a median crest. In the furrows are two rows of
perforations. A movable plate measures 9 mm. long by 4 mm. wide.
=Stenotatus= Ameghino
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