The Deseado Formation of PatagoniaLoomis, Frederic Brewster
Science
The Deseado Formation of Patagonia
Loomis, Frederic Brewster
Paleontology -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
=Phanophilus dorsatus= Ameghino
P. dorsatus, Amegh., loc. cit. p. 202.
In our collection, two isolated upper molars of this unusual form
occur, corresponding in size and pattern to the one described by
Ameghino. The external column, as seen by fig. 42, is narrow and high.
A single tooth measures 5½ mm. from front to back, and 3¾ mm. in width.
[Illustration: Fig. 43. External view of molar 1—natural size.]
[Illustration: Fig. 44. Milk dentition, genus and species?—natural
size.]
Specimen 3142 gen. and sp.?
This specimen is the mandible with the milk dentition. The molars
present suggest _Prosotherium triangulidens_, but inc. 3 and the canine
are present, and the first two incisors are not enlarged, so it would
seem to represent a genus which I have not been able to identify. Molar
1 is bilobed and similar to that of _Prosotherium_. The deciduous
premolars are all present, all rooted, and all remarkable for their
great antero-posterior elongation. Roots of the incisors and canine
are present, that of the canine being the largest, and those of the
incisors being about equal in size. This would suggest such a form as
_Protypotherium_, were this genus represented in the Deseado beds.
=Interatheriidae=
The family is characterized by the incisors not being enlarged, by
upper and lower premolars and molars being inflexed on both the inner
and out sides, and by the inflated mastoid bulla being filled with
cancellous tissue. The only genus referable to this family, from the
Deseado beds, is _Archaeophylus_.
=Archaeophylus= Ameghino
Archaeophylus Amegh., 1897, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t. 18, p. 423.
The genus is based on a skull which preserved most of the upper
dentition except the incisors, and which shows the characteristics of
the family in their inception.
=Archaeophylus patrius= Ameghino
[Illustration: Fig. 45. Archaeophylus patrius after Ameghino, right
upper dentition—natural size.]
A. patrius Amegh., loc. cit.
We found no specimen of this interesting type, but I give a diagram of
Ameghino’s type, which shows the characteristics of the species and
genus. The length of the premolar-molar series is 27 mm.
=Eutrachytheridae= Ameghino
The family consists of larger forms than the other families, and is
characterized by the upper molars having the inflexion bifurcated, so
that the teeth are at least incipiently three-lobed. I would place in
the family the genera, _Eutrachytherus, Argyrohyrax_, and _Isopoedrium_.
=Eutrachytherus= Ameghino
Trachytherus Amegh., 1889, Act. Acad. Nac. Cienc. Cordoba, t. VI, p.
918.
Trachytherus Amegh., 1895, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t. 15, p. 623.
Eutrachytherus Amegh., 1897, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t. 18, p. 429.
This genus was first called _Trachytherus_, and when this was found to
be preoccupied, changed to _Eutrachytherus_. Ameghino gives the dental
formula as
3 0 4 3
-------,
2 1 4 3
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