First Evidence of Holocene Rodent Parasites from the Argentine Puna: A Paleoparasitological Study of Coprolites from Alero Caído 1 Archaeological Site (Susques, Jujuy)

Abstract

This study presents the frst paleoparasitological investigation of rodent coprolites from theArgentine Puna, a high-altitude arid region of the Central Andes. Sixty-six coprolitesrecovered from the Alero Caído 1 archaeological site (Jujuy Province, Argentina) weremorphologically described and microscopically examined. The coprolites were recoveredfrom six stratigraphic levels (Levels 1?6), corresponding to Holocene occupations of the site.Three coprolite morphotypes were identifed. Fifteen samples (23%) were positive toparasitic remains. The parasite taxa found were: Trichuris sp., Paraspidodera sp., Helminthoxyssp., Monoecocestus sp., Viscachataenia quadrata, and Strongylus-type eggs. Morphologicaland parasitological evidence suggest that the coprolites originated from different rodenttaxa: myomorph rodents (Cricetidae) for Morphotype 1, and caviomorph rodents(Caviomorpha), particularly the mountain viscacha (Lagidium viscacia) and likelyOctodontidae species, for Morphotypes 2 and 3. These fndings extend the knowngeographic distribution of ancient parasites in South America and provide novel insightsinto rodent diversity, host?parasite relationships, and paleoecological conditions in highaltitude Andean environments. The results highlight the potential of rodent coprolites aspaleoecological archives for reconstructing faunal communities, biocultural interactions, andenvironmental dynamics in prehistoric Andean landscapes.