Rasgos diagnósticos en elementos postcraneales de dos especies de otáridos para su identificación en el registro zooarqueológico

Abstract

Arctocephalus australis y Otaria flavescens son las dos especies de otáridos que aparecen con mayor frecuencia en el registro zooarqueológico de sitios costeros de Sudamérica. La similitud en los huesos del esqueleto postcraneal en estos otáridos ha limitado la identificación específica, constituyéndose en una de las mayores dificultades encontradas para emprender estudios zooarqueológicos pormenorizados en estos animales. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar criterios descriptivos claros que puedan ser empleados en la identificación de estas dos especies recuperadas en el registro zooarqueológico. La utilización de rasgos diagnósticos junto a otros abordajes existentes (estudios osteométricos, cronograma de fusión de huesos) permitirá investigar aspectos particulares que involucren el registro fósil de estos animales. A partir de una muestra de 24 individuos adultos actuales se revisaron los criterios propuestos previamente por otro autor y como resultado se presenta una nueva lista de 36 rasgos diagnósticos para huesos del esqueleto postcraneal, sólidamente sustentada. [DIAGNOSTIC TRAITS IN POST-CRANIAL ELEMENTS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF TWO OTARIIDS SPECIES IN THE ZOOARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD. ABSTRACT: Arctocephalus australis and Otaria flavescens are the two species of otariids that frequently appear in the zooarchaeological record of South American coastal sites. The similarity between their postcranial bone elements has limited taxonomic identification, resulting in one of the greatest difficulties encountered to carry out detailed zooarchaeological analysis of these animals. The aim of this study is to present a clear descriptive criterion that can be used to identify these two species when recovered from the zooarchaeological record. The use of diagnostic traits along with other approaches (e.g., osteometric studies, bone fusion schedule), will allow investigating particular aspects of the fossil record of these animals. From a sample of 24 modern adult individuals, earlier proposed criteria were reviewed, and as a result, a new list of 36 diagnostic traits for postcranial skeleton bones is presented.]

Arctocephalus australis and Otaria flavescens are the two species of otariids that frequently appear in the zooarchaeological record of South American coastal sites. The similarity between their postcranial bone elements has limited taxonomic identification, resulting in one of the greatest difficulties encountered to carry out detailed zooarchaeological analysis of these animals. The aim of this study is to present a clear descriptive criterion that can be used to identify these two species when recovered from the zooarchaeological record. The use of diagnostic traits along with other approaches (e.g., osteometric studies, bone fusion schedule), will allow investigating particular aspects of the fossil record of these animals. From a sample of 24 modern adult individuals, earlier proposed criteria were reviewed, and as a result, a new list of 36 diagnostic traits for postcranial skeleton bones is presented.