The Deseado Formation of PatagoniaLoomis, Frederic Brewster
Science
The Deseado Formation of Patagonia
Loomis, Frederic Brewster
Paleontology -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
The type of this species is a calcaneum and astragulus, to which
Ameghino later assigned the rear part of a mandible with pm. 4 and the
three molars; also a milk dentition, this last I think wrongly, for it
is too small. I should interpret this specimen as deciduous inc. 2 to
deciduous pm. 4, plus permanent molar 1, in which case the permanent
molar corresponds to that of _A. scotti_ and it is not necessary to
discuss “the remarkable bicuspid canine,” as Ameghino does. Gaudry had
some of this material, upper molars, the lower end of the humerus, the
ulna, calcaneum and astragulus, and he referred the genus as the same
as _Homaladontotherium_. With this last, I can not agree. We found the
three upper molars, the lower end of the humerus, part of the radius,
the tibia, and two phalanges, all on the Chico del Chubut, west of
Puerto Visser.
[Illustration: Fig. 92. Molars 1-3 of the left side—½ natural size.]
While brachydont, the external faces of the molars are high, and each
has a tiny cingulum along the base of the crown. There is also a strong
cingulum around the anterior, internal, and posterior faces of the
crown, which on the posterior margin flares out, making a marked and
characteristic ridge. The grinding surface, with its external wall and
two transverse lobes, is very similar to the molar of a rhinoceros.
When the tooth wears down, the inclosed basin becomes a large pit.
Between the posterior lobe and the flaring cingulum on the posterior
margin, there is also a small posterior bay, which, in an old tooth,
will also appear as a pit, but being shallow, it does not last long.
The lower molars, as figured by Ameghino, are of the same type as those
of the toxodonts, consisting of two crescents with the pillar in the
middle of the posterior crescent, but the crescents and pillar are very
plump; so that with wear they form broad grinding surfaces; and the
bays, instead of becoming pits, first appear as notches, then disappear
entirely. Each premolar and molar has a cingulum on the internal and
external sides.
[Illustration: Fig. 93. Premolar 4 to molar 3—½ natural size, after
Ameghino.]
MEASUREMENTS, SPECIMEN 3179
Upper dentition, molar 1, length 46 mm., width 50 mm.
Upper dentition, molar 2, length 51 mm., width 55 mm.
Upper dentition, molar 3, length 50 mm., width 51 mm.
Lower dentition, from Ameghino’s measurements
Lower dentition, premolar 4, length 28 mm., width 23 mm.
Lower dentition, molar 1, length 34 mm., width 24 mm.
Lower dentition, molar 2, length 46 mm., width 24 mm.
Lower dentition, molar 3, length 76 mm., width 23 mm.
Only the distal end of the scapula has been found; and this shows a
shallow glenoid cavity, which is much longer in the antero-posterior
direction, than in the transverse. The spine rises close above the rim
of the glenoid, and is unusually heavy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account