The Deseado Formation of PatagoniaLoomis, Frederic Brewster
Science
The Deseado Formation of Patagonia
Loomis, Frederic Brewster
Paleontology -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
This species is known only by a single canine 100 mm. long, of which
but 15 mm. belongs to the crown. Its antero-posterior diameter is 14
mm., the transverse 12 mm. It seems to me very doubtful whether this is
a valid species.
Caenolestidae
This family, based on the living genus _Caenolestes_, is represented in
Tertiary times in Patagonia by three subdivisions, _Palaeothentinae_,
_Garzoninae_, and _Abderitinae_. While diprotodonts, as far as known,
the family is in strong contrast to the Australian diprotodonts in
that there is no sign of syndactylism in the pes. The American forms
are characterized by four subequal upper incisors, a normal canine,
the first three premolars vestigal, while the fourth is either normal
or enlarged into a sectorial tooth. The three molars are progressively
smaller from the front back. The first lower incisor is greatly
enlarged and procumbrent, the remaining incisors, the canine, and the
anterior premolars being vestigal though usually present. Premolar 4 is
enlarged and sectorial in most genera, and the molars as in the upper
jaw progressively smaller.
For the practical purposes of this paper the subfamilies are
distinguished as follows:
Caenolestinae, lower pm. 4 not developed into a sectorial tooth.
Palaeothentinae, lower pm. 4 is developed into a sectorial tooth.
Abderitinae, lower pm. 4 is developed into a sectorial tooth and
striated.
=Palaeothentinae= Sinclair.
(= Epanorthidae Ameghino)
This group or subfamily was established to hold several genera of tiny
marsupials with the dental formula
? 1 4 3
-------;
4 1 2 3
the lower fourth premolar enlarged into a sectorial tooth; and the
molars small and buno-lophodont. From the Deseado beds but one genus
of this subdivision has been found, _Palaeothentes_, designated by
Ameghino first _Epanorthus_ then later _Palaepanorthus_, but as I can
see no reason for distinguishing the Deseado species of the genus from
those of the Santa Cruz, I have retained the name _Palaeothentes_.
The genera of this subfamily are distinguished as follows:
LOWER THIRD PREMOLAR
Palaeothentes 2-rooted, fairly large, equals pm. 4 in height.
Pilchenia 2-rooted, moderate size nearly equals pm. 4 in height.
Callomenus 2-rooted, small size much lower than pm. 4.
Decastris, 1-rooted, vestigal.
=Palaeothentes= (Moreno) Ameghino
Palaeothentes Moreno, 1882, Patagonia, Resto de un Continente hoy
submergido, p. 22, (nomen nudum).
Palaeothentes (Moreno) Ameghino, 1887, Enum. Sist. Espesies Mamif. Fos,
Patagonia, p. 5.
Epanorthus Ameghino, 1889, Act. Acad. Nac. Cienc. Cordoba, t. 6, p. 271.
Epanorthus Amegh., 1897, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t. 18, p. 500,
(nudum).
Palaepanorthus Amegh., 1901, Anal. Soc. Cienc. Argen., t. 51, p. 77,
(nomen).
Palaepanorthus Amegh., 1902, Bol. Acad. Nac. Cienc. Cordoba, t. 18, p.
123.
Palaepanorthus Amegh., 1903, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires, t. 9, (ser.
3, t. 2) p. 239.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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