Lichen bioerosion on fossil vertebrates from the Cenozoic of Patagonia and Antarctica

Abstract

Different traces occur on fossil bones and teeth coming from the Early Miocene Gaiman Formation (Patagonia, Argentina). Most traces were attributed to the action of terrestrial and marine predators and scavengers. However, other traces on bones and teeth from this unit and one tooth from the Eocene La Meseta Formation (Antarctica) are attributed to chemical corrosion by lichens in recent times, that is, in a very late diagenetic time. The living lichens and calcium oxalate deposits occurring on the traces and their particular pattern indicates that they were not produced by vegetal roots. The lichens include reproductive structures which allowed a proper determination. A kind of corrosion pattern (Type 1) on bones and teeth from Patagonia is associated to Sarcogyne orbicularis K̈orber, Verrucaria sp. Schrad, and Buellia aff. punctiformis (Hoff.) Massal. The lichen Aspicilia aff. Aquatica produced rounded holes on an Antarctic tooth (Type 2). On the same tooth, the epilithic lichen Caloplaca sp. Th. Fries did not leave any kind of mark on the enameloid.