Borings and coprolites of termites in fossil woods from the Lower Cretaceous (Kachaike Formation) of Argentinean Patagonia

Abstract

Borings filled with coprolites in silicified conifer woods from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) of the Kachaike Formation, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina are described for the first time. Coprolites are approximately hexagonal in cross-section, like those produced by extant Kalotermitidae, and occur inside borings in the secondary xylem. The presence of this family in the mid-Cretaceous ecosystems of Patagonia indicates arid climatic conditions consistent with previous geological, palynological and paleoxylological studies for this time interval in the Austral Basin. This also adds to other worldwide records of termites from the Lower Cretaceous, supporting their ecological importance as consumers and recyclers of lignified organic matter in dry forests from this period on to today.