The Deseado Formation of PatagoniaLoomis, Frederic Brewster
Science
The Deseado Formation of Patagonia
Loomis, Frederic Brewster
Paleontology -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
This species was founded on the anterior part of a skull with the full
upper dentition. My specimen differs from Ameghino’s in having a tiny
alveolus for the upper canine, the difference being due to my specimen
being younger.
The upper dentition is very characteristic. Incisor 1 is a powerful,
deep-set, curved gnawing tooth, with a heavy layer of enamel on the
anterior face, and none on the other sides; and is moderately beveled
in the rear as a result of wear. The second and third incisors are
much smaller, each having enamel on the outer face only, and with a
marked tendency to become vestigal. The suture of the premaxilla comes
to the base of inc. 3. There follows a short diastema, then a tiny
alveolus for the canine, closely followed by the first premolar which
is also small. The second premolar shows no inflexion. Beginning with
the third premolar there is a strong inner inflexion, which in the
fourth premolar and molars is bifurcated. The molars are considerably
larger than the premolars, the second being the largest of the series.
With each successive molar, the inflexion is wider, so that in m. 3 the
tooth is divided into three lobes of nearly equal size. All premolars
and molars are rootless, curved, and set so deep in the jaw that they
almost meet in the median line. A typical molar measures 50 mm. in
length, of which only 7-8 mm. project above the border of the jaw. All
the back teeth are covered with a thick coating of cement.
[Illustration: Fig. 48. E. spegazzinianus, right upper dentition—natural
size.]
The arrangement of the teeth of the lower jaw is shown in fig. 25 h.,
after Ameghino. The first and second incisors are greatly enlarged.
Incisor 3 is lacking, and the canine vestigal. Pm. 1 is small and
single-lobed, the succeeding premolars and molars being large and
divided into two lobes by a deep external, and a shallow internal
infolding.
MEASUREMENTS
Skull, width between the orbits 60 mm.
Skull, width across the postorbital processes 88 mm.
Skull, height from m. 2 to top of frontal 77 mm.
Skull, width of palate opposite inc. 2 42 mm.
Skull, width of palate opposite m. 2 62 mm.
Dentition, length inc. 1 to m. 3 140 mm.
Dentition, incisor 1 ant.-post. length 11 mm. width 16 mm.
Dentition, pm. 3 length 11 mm. width 13 mm.
Dentition, m. 2 length 22 mm. width 16 mm.
=Eutrachytherus conturbatus= Ameghino
Trachytherus conturbatus Amegh., 1895, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t. 15,
p. 623.
Eutrachytherus conturbatus Amegh., 1897, Bol. Inst. Geog. Argen., t.
18, p. 429.
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