Postcranial remains of Eutherian mammals from Punta Peligro (Paleocene), Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

The aim of this present work is to describe new mammalian postcranial remains coming from the Palaeocene of Punta Peligro locality, Chubut province, Argentina. These consist of a nearly complete calcaneus and the distal end of a humerus, coming from different specimens. A detailed description of both specimens, along with comparisons with major mammalian lineages existing during that period, indicates their close resemblance to basal ungulates. The humerus is similar to basal ungulates and some notoungulates, but its identification is not certain. The calcaneus shares many features with basal pan-perissodactyls, including South American didolodontids and cambaytheriids from India. The similarities of the described specimens, particularly the calcaneus with basal ungulates related to derived groups such as Perissodactyla, could lend some indirect evidence on the early radiation of South American hoofed mammals.