PBDB Collection

Cabeza Blanca ( of Argentina)

Also known as Loomis Locality

Where: Chubut, Argentina (45.2° S, 67.5° W: paleocoordinates 46.4° S, 60.0° W)

• coordinate stated in text

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Sarmiento Formation, Deseadan (29.0 - 21.0 Ma)

• According to the most recent geochronological calibrations at Gran Barranca, Deseadan mammal assemblages could be as old as 29.2 Ma and as young as 26.3 Ma (Ré et al. 2010: 59243), a timespan corresponding to the late Oligocene.

• bed-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: terrestrial; brown, sandy shale and concretionary, yellow, sandy claystone

• "The material varies from brown sandy clay shales to yellow sandy clay with concretions, and is capped with a varying laer of greenish sand, which, in some places, is coarse and irregular, in others fine and uniform, and in still other places is mixed with considerable quantities of volcanic ash. In it are many mud balls..."

Size classes: macrofossils, mesofossils

Primary reference: F. Ameghino. 1897. Mammiféres crétacés de l’Argentine (Deuxième contribution à la connaissance de la fauna mammalogique de couches à Pyrotherium) [Cretaceous mammals of Argentina (second contribution to the knowledge of the mammalian fauna of the Pyrotherium Beds)]. Boletin Instituto Geografico Argentino 18(4–9):406-521 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen/M. Carrano]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 14211: authorized by John Alroy, entered by Jill Wertheim on 23.05.2002, edited by Juan Carrillo, Jelle Zijlstra, Terri Cleary, Philip Mannion, Evangelos Vlachos and Grace Varnham

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Show authors, comments, and common names

Mammalia
Sparassodonta - Borhyaenidae	Pharsophorus lacerans¹⁶, Pharsophorus tenax¹³, Australohyaena antiqua¹¹ Pharsophorus lacerans¹⁶ Ameghino 1897 metatherian 3 more MACN specimens may be from Cabeza Blanca Pharsophorus tenax¹³ Ameghino 1897 metatherian Australohyaena antiqua¹¹ Ameghino 1894 metatherian UNPJSB PV 113, rostrum, basicranium, both dentaries, and dentition, except left i2, right i4 and right p1.
Sparassodonta - Proborhyaenidae	Proborhyaena gigantea¹⁶ Proborhyaena gigantea¹⁶ Ameghino 1897 metatherian (Ameghino 1897) probably Cabeza Blanca
Sparassodonta -	"Notogale mitis" = Notogale mitis¹⁶, "Pharsophorus mitis" = Notogale mitis¹³ "Notogale mitis" = Notogale mitis¹⁶ Ameghino 1897 metatherian (Ameghino 1897) "Pharsophorus mitis" = Notogale mitis¹³ Ameghino 1897 metatherian
Paucituberculata - Palaeothentidae	Acdestodon bonapartei n. gen. n. sp.⁵, "Callomenus praecursor n. sp." = Acdestoides praecursor¹³, "Palaeothentes chubutensis" = Carlothentes chubutensis¹⁶, "Epanorthus chubutensis" = Carlothentes chubutensis¹³, Parabderites minusculus¹⁶ Acdestodon bonapartei n. gen. n. sp.⁵ Bown and Fleagle 1993 marsupial Holotype: MACN CH- 1311, right p3-m2 "Callomenus praecursor n. sp." = Acdestoides praecursor¹³ Loomis 1914 marsupial "Palaeothentes chubutensis" = Carlothentes chubutensis¹⁶ Ameghino 1897 marsupial (Ameghino 1897) "Epanorthus chubutensis" = Carlothentes chubutensis¹³ Ameghino 1897 marsupial Parabderites minusculus¹⁶ Ameghino 1902 marsupial (Ameghino 1902)
Paucituberculata - Caenolestidae	"Palaeothentes lucina" = Pilchenia lucina¹⁶, "Pilchenia lucina n. sp." = Pilchenia lucina¹³ "Palaeothentes lucina" = Pilchenia lucina¹⁶ Ameghino 1904 marsupial (Ameghino 1897) "Pilchenia lucina n. sp." = Pilchenia lucina¹³ Ameghino 1904 marsupial MACN 52-371, isolated m3, holotype, probably from Cabeza Blanca; AC 3110, dentary p3-m4, certainly from here
Tribosphenida -	"Notogale tenuis" = Pharsophorus tenuis¹⁶ "Notogale tenuis" = Pharsophorus tenuis¹⁶ Ameghino 1897 marsupial (Ameghino 1897) Probably from Cabeza Blanca
Panameriungulata - Macraucheniidae	Notodiaphorus crassus n. gen. n. sp.¹³, Cramauchenia normalis¹⁰ Notodiaphorus crassus n. gen. n. sp.¹³ Loomis 1914 placental Cramauchenia normalis¹⁰ Ameghino 1902 placental MPEF-PV 2524
Panameriungulata - Proterotheriidae	Deuterotherium distichum¹³, Protheosodon coniferus¹³ Deuterotherium distichum¹³ Ameghino 1894 placental Ameghino Protheosodon coniferus¹³ Ameghino 1897 placental
Panameriungulata - Adianthidae	"Proadianthus excavatus" = Proadiantus excavatus¹³, "Proadiantus excavatus n. gen. n. sp." = Proadiantus excavatus, "Proadiantus pungidens n. sp." = Proadiantus excavatus⁸, Tricoelodus bicuspidatus n. gen. n. sp. "Proadianthus excavatus" = Proadiantus excavatus¹³ Ameghino 1897 placental Ameghino "Proadiantus excavatus n. gen. n. sp." = Proadiantus excavatus Ameghino 1897 placental MACN A52-13, dentary p3-4, holotype; A52-217, dentary p4-m1; A52-215, dentary m1-3 "Proadiantus pungidens n. sp." = Proadiantus excavatus⁸ Ameghino 1897 placental MACN A52-214, dentary i2-c, p2-m2, lectotype Tricoelodus bicuspidatus n. gen. n. sp. Ameghino 1897 placental MACN A52-203, dentary p4-m2, holotype; MACN A52-615, dentary m3; FMNH P14698, right P3-M2 and left ?C, P2-3, M1-3; FMNH P14696, right m2-3
Rodentia -	Caviomorpha indet.²⁶, Deseadomys arambourgi²⁶, ? Protacaremys adilos n. sp.²⁵, Acarechimys leucotheae n. sp.²⁵ Caviomorpha indet.²⁶ caviomorph ACM 3039, left lower molar Deseadomys arambourgi²⁶ Wood and Patterson 1959 caviomorph ACM 3163, P4-M2; ACM 3071, M3 ? Protacaremys adilos n. sp.²⁵ Vucetich et al. 2015 caviomorph MPEF-PV 10678, right m2, holotype Acarechimys leucotheae n. sp.²⁵ Vucetich et al. 2015 caviomorph MPEF-PV 10677, dentary i, dp4-m3, holotype
Rodentia - Acaremyidae	Galileomys baios n. sp.²⁵ Galileomys baios n. sp.²⁵ Vucetich et al. 2015 caviomorph MPEF-PV 10676, dentary p4-m2, holotype
Rodentia -	Llitun notuca n. gen. n. sp.²⁵, Ethelomys loomisi n. gen. n. sp.²⁵, Leucokephalos zeffiae n. gen. n. sp.²⁵ Llitun notuca n. gen. n. sp.²⁵ Vucetich et al. 2015 caviomorph MPEF-PV 10679, dentary i, p4-m2 Ethelomys loomisi n. gen. n. sp.²⁵ caviomorph ACM 3087, dentary m1-2, holotype; MPEF-PV 571, dentary i, m1-m2 Leucokephalos zeffiae n. gen. n. sp.²⁵ Vucetich et al. 2015 caviomorph MPEF-PV 583, dentary p4-m2, holotype; MPEF-PV 585, right mandibular fragment with p4–m2 of a juvenile; MPEF-PV 586, left p4–m3 series; MPEF-PV 10680, isolated right p4; MPEF- PV 584, left mandibular fragment with p4-m2 and the incisor; MPEF-PV 10680, isolated right p4.
Rodentia - Erethizontidae	"Eosteiromys medianus" = Protosteiromys medianus¹³, "Protosteiromys medianus" = Protosteiromys medianus²⁶, Protosteiromys asmodeophilus²⁵ "Eosteiromys medianus" = Protosteiromys medianus¹³ Ameghino 1903 porcupine "Protosteiromys medianus" = Protosteiromys medianus²⁶ Ameghino 1903 porcupine ACM 3014, M1 or M2 Protosteiromys asmodeophilus²⁵ Wood and Patterson 1959 porcupine
Rodentia - Cephalomyidae	Cephalomyidae indet.²⁴, Cephalomyopsis "morphotype 3"²⁵, "Cephalomys arcidens n. gen. n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens, "Cephalomys prosus" = Cephalomys arcidens¹³, "Cephalomys prorsus n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens²⁶, "Asteromys annectens n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens²⁶, "Cephalomys plexus n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens, "Orchiomys prostans n. gen. n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens, "Asteromys prospicuus" = Cephalomys arcidens¹³, "Asteromys prospicuus n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens, Cephalomys ceciae n. sp.²⁵, Litodontomys chubutensis n. gen. n. sp.¹³ Cephalomyidae indet.²⁴ Ameghino 1897 caviomorph MACN 1295, M1 or M2; MACN 1296, M1 or M2 Cephalomyopsis "morphotype 3"²⁵ Vucetich 1985 caviomorph "Cephalomys arcidens n. gen. n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens Ameghino 1897 caviomorph MACN A 52-88 (lectotype), palatal fragments with P4-M3, dentary p4-m3; MACN A 52-89 (syntype), partial skull; additional specimens in MACN, Amherst, FMNH, AMNH, YPM, MCZ "Cephalomys prosus" = Cephalomys arcidens¹³ Ameghino 1897 caviomorph "Cephalomys prorsus n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens²⁶ Ameghino 1897 caviomorph MACN A 52-103, dentary p4-m3, type "Asteromys annectens n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens²⁶ Ameghino 1897 caviomorph MACN A 52-108, dentary p4-m3 (lectotype); MACN A 52-109, palate with right and left P4-M3 "Cephalomys plexus n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens Ameghino 1897 caviomorph MACN A 52-99, maxilla P4-M3, lectotype; 52-100, maxilla P4-M3; 52-101, mandible p4-m2; 52-102, mandible p4-m2. 3 in MACN; 17 in Amherst; 1 in FMNH; 2 in AMNH; 4 in YPM; and types of synonyms "Orchiomys prostans n. gen. n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens Ameghino 1897 caviomorph MACN A 52-96, dentary with partial dp4 and m1-2 "Asteromys prospicuus" = Cephalomys arcidens¹³ Ameghino 1897 caviomorph "Asteromys prospicuus n. sp." = Cephalomys arcidens Ameghino 1897 caviomorph MACN A 52-107, four teeth: left M3 (lectotype), left M1 or M2, right M1 or M2, and a fragment Cephalomys ceciae n. sp.²⁵ Vucetich et al. 2015 caviomorph MPEF-PV 10693, left m1 or m2, holotype Litodontomys chubutensis n. gen. n. sp.¹³ Loomis 1914 caviomorph ACM 3086 - holotype; referred specimen: MPEF- PV 10696
Rodentia -	Loncolicu tretos n. gen. n. sp.²⁵ Loncolicu tretos n. gen. n. sp.²⁵ Vucetich et al. 2015 caviomorph MPEF-PV 10682, M1-M2, holotype; MPEF-PV 10683, P4-M2; MPEF-PV 10681, dentary p4-m1
Rodentia - Chinchillidae	Scotamys antiquus n. gen. n. sp.¹³, Incamys bolivianus⁶, Incamys bolivianus¹⁷, Incamys menniorum n. sp.²⁵, ? Eoviscaccia australis n. sp.²⁴ Scotamys antiquus n. gen. n. sp.¹³ Loomis 1914 chinchilid Incamys bolivianus⁶ Hoffstetter and Lavocat 1970 chinchilid MPEF-PV 10721 Incamys bolivianus¹⁷ Hoffstetter and Lavocat 1970 chinchilid MACN A 52-113, upper cheek tooth Incamys menniorum n. sp.²⁵ Vucetich et al. 2015 chinchilid MPEF-PV 10685, left m3, holotype; MPEF-PV 10686, M1 or M2 ? Eoviscaccia australis n. sp.²⁴ Vucetich 1989 chinchilid MACN 1297, left m1 or m2; MACN 1298, right m1 or m2
Rodentia -	? Asteromys punctus²⁵, Asteromys punctus n. gen. n. sp., Chubutomys simpsoni n. gen. n. sp.²⁶ ? Asteromys punctus²⁵ Ameghino 1897 caviomorph MPEF-PV 595 isolated right DP4; MPEF-PV 597 isolated left DP4 with damaged lingual wall. MACN 52-87, right dP4; ACM 3054, right M?3 Asteromys punctus n. gen. n. sp. Ameghino 1897 caviomorph MACN A 52-110, dentary with p4-m3 Chubutomys simpsoni n. gen. n. sp.²⁶ Wood and Patterson 1959 caviomorph AMNH 29557, dentary m2-3
Rodentia - Eocardiidae	Eocardiidae indet.²⁶ Eocardiidae indet.²⁶ Ameghino 1891 caviomorph ACM 3054, M3; MACN A 52-87, dP4
Edentata -	"Edentata indet." = Xenarthra¹³ "Edentata indet." = Xenarthra¹³ Cope 1889 edentate
Cingulata - Chlamyphoridae	Prozaedius impressus¹³, Prozaedius planus¹³, Stenotatus aff. ornatus⁷ Prozaedius impressus¹³ Ameghino 1897 edentate Prozaedius planus¹³ Ameghino 1897 edentate Stenotatus aff. ornatus⁷ edentate
Cingulata - Palaeopeltidae	Palaeopeltis inornatus¹³ Palaeopeltis inornatus¹³ Ameghino 1894 edentate
Cingulata - Dasypodidae	Proeuphractus setiger¹³, "Proeutatus lagenaformis" = Meteutatus lagenaformis¹³ Proeuphractus setiger¹³ Ameghino 1897 armadillo "Proeutatus lagenaformis" = Meteutatus lagenaformis¹³ Ameghino 1897 armadillo
Cingulata - Peltephilidae	Peltephilus undulatus¹³ Peltephilus undulatus¹³ Ameghino 1897 edentate
Astrapotheria - Astrapotheriidae	Parastrapotherium holmbergi¹³ Parastrapotherium holmbergi¹³ Ameghino 1894 placental
Notoungulata -	Eurygenium latirostris n. gen. n. sp.¹⁵ Eurygenium latirostris n. gen. n. sp.¹⁵ Ameghino 1894 notoungulate MACN A52-70 - holotype; hypodigm: MACN-A-52-71-73 and UNPSJB PV-60
Notoungulata - Leontiniidae	Leontinia gaudryi¹³, Ancylocoelus frequens²¹ Leontinia gaudryi¹³ Ameghino 1894 notoungulate Ancylocoelus frequens²¹ Ameghino 1894 notoungulate
Notoungulata - Toxodontidae	Proadinotherium leptognathus¹³ Proadinotherium leptognathus¹³ notoungulate
Notoungulata - Notohippidae	Rhynchippus equinus¹³, Rhynchippus pumilus²², Coresodon scalpridens¹³ Rhynchippus equinus¹³ Ameghino 1897 notoungulate Rhynchippus pumilus²² Ameghino 1897 notoungulate AMNH 29555 Coresodon scalpridens¹³ Ameghino 1894 notoungulate
Notoungulata - Homalodotheriidae	Asmodeus osborni¹³ Asmodeus osborni¹³ Ameghino 1894 notoungulate
Notoungulata - Hegetotheriidae	"Prosotherium garzoni" = Prosotherium garzoni¹³, "Prosotherium triangulidens" = Prosotherium garzoni¹³, "Phanophilus dorsatus" = Medistylus dorsatus¹³, "Medistylus dorsatus n. gen. n. sp." = Medistylus dorsatus²⁰, Propachyrucos crassus n. sp., Hegetotheriopsis sulcatus¹², "Prohegetotherium sculptum" = Prohegetotherium sculptum¹⁹, "Prohegetotherium shumwayi n. sp." = Prohegetotherium sculptum¹³ "Prosotherium garzoni" = Prosotherium garzoni¹³ Ameghino 1897 notoungulate "Prosotherium triangulidens" = Prosotherium garzoni¹³ Ameghino 1897 notoungulate "Phanophilus dorsatus" = Medistylus dorsatus¹³ Ameghino 1904 notoungulate "Medistylus dorsatus n. gen. n. sp." = Medistylus dorsatus²⁰ Ameghino 1904 notoungulate MACN A52-488 - syntype; MPEF-PV 693 Propachyrucos crassus n. sp. Ameghino 1897 notoungulate MACN A52-450, A52-463, A52-448 (lectotype) Hegetotheriopsis sulcatus¹² Kramarz and Paz 2013 notoungulate MACN PV CH2137 "Prohegetotherium sculptum" = Prohegetotherium sculptum¹⁹ Ameghino 1897 notoungulate MACN A52-446, A52-447, A52-449, FMNH P13414, FMNH P14695, AMNH 312 c; and hypodigms of synonyms "Prohegetotherium shumwayi n. sp." = Prohegetotherium sculptum¹³ Ameghino 1897 notoungulate
Notoungulata - Archaeohyracidae	Archaeohyrax patagonicus⁴ Archaeohyrax patagonicus⁴ Ameghino 1897 notoungulate Ameghino
Notoungulata - Mesotheriidae	"Eutrachytherus spegazzinianus" = Trachytherus spegazzinianus¹³, "Coresodon cancellatus n. sp." = Trachytherus spegazzinianus³, "Anatrachytherus soriae n. gen. n. sp." = Trachytherus spegazzinianus¹⁸, "Eutrachytherus grandis n. sp." = Trachytherus spegazzinianus¹³, "Isoproedrium solitarium" = Trachytherus spegazzinianus¹³ "Eutrachytherus spegazzinianus" = Trachytherus spegazzinianus¹³ Ameghino 1889 notoungulate MACN A52-492, MACN A52-491, MACN A52-566, MACN A52-567, MACN A52-493, MACN A52-489, MACN A52-498, MACN A52-496, MACN A52-490, UNPSJB PV 112, AMNH 29564, ACM 3264, ACM s/n and FMNH P13281 "Coresodon cancellatus n. sp." = Trachytherus spegazzinianus³ Ameghino 1889 notoungulate MACN A52-566, maxilla dP3-4, M1, holotype "Anatrachytherus soriae n. gen. n. sp." = Trachytherus spegazzinianus¹⁸ Ameghino 1889 notoungulate MACN A52-490, mandible with left and right i1-2, p2-m2, left m3 "Eutrachytherus grandis n. sp." = Trachytherus spegazzinianus¹³ Ameghino 1889 notoungulate "Isoproedrium solitarium" = Trachytherus spegazzinianus¹³ Ameghino 1889 notoungulate
Notoungulata - Protypotheriidae	Archaeophylus patrius n. gen. n. sp. Archaeophylus patrius n. gen. n. sp. Ameghino 1897 notoungulate MACN A52-483 - type
Notoungulata - Interatheriidae	"Argyrohyrax proavus n. gen. n. sp." = Argyrohyrax proavus, "Argyrohyrax proavus" = Argyrohyrax proavus¹⁴, "Plagiarthrus cliva" = Argyrohyrax proavus¹³, "Argyrohyrax proavunculus" = Argyrohyrax proavus²³, Progaleopithecus fissurellatus n. gen. n. sp.²³, Progaleopithecus tournoueri n. sp.²³ "Argyrohyrax proavus n. gen. n. sp." = Argyrohyrax proavus Ameghino 1897 notoungulate MACN A52-472 - holotype "Argyrohyrax proavus" = Argyrohyrax proavus¹⁴ Ameghino 1897 notoungulate FMH P13415 "Plagiarthrus cliva" = Argyrohyrax proavus¹³ Ameghino 1897 notoungulate "Argyrohyrax proavunculus" = Argyrohyrax proavus²³ Ameghino 1897 notoungulate MACN A52-478 and A52-474 Progaleopithecus fissurellatus n. gen. n. sp.²³ Ameghino 1904 notoungulate MACN A52-486 - type Progaleopithecus tournoueri n. sp.²³ Ameghino 1904 notoungulate MNH DES 334 - type; referred material: FMNH 14687
Notoungulata - Henricosborniidae	Henricosborniidae indet.²³ Henricosborniidae indet.²³ Ameghino 1901 notoungulate MACN A52-486 (originally part of syntype of Progaleopithecus fissurellatus)
Tribosphenida - Pyrotheridae	Pyrotherium romeroi¹⁴, Pyrotherium sorondoi¹³ Pyrotherium romeroi¹⁴ placental AM 3207 Pyrotherium sorondoi¹³ Ameghino 1894 placental
Reptilia
Squamata - Madtsoiidae	? Madtsoia sp.¹ ? Madtsoia sp.¹ Simpson 1933 snake MPEF-PV 1464, isolated precloacal vertebral centrum
Squamata - Iguanidae	Iguanidae indet.¹, ? Iguaninae indet.¹ Iguanidae indet.¹ Oppel 1811 squamates MPEF-PV 1460, tooth-bearing fragment of maxilla or dentary ? Iguaninae indet.¹ Cope 1886 squamates MPEF-PV 1463, isolated presacral vertebra
Testudines - Testudinidae	Testudininae indet.⁹ Testudininae indet.⁹ Gray 1825 turtle MACN
Aves
Gruiformes - Phorusrhacidae	Physornis sp.¹³, Andrewsornis abotti² Physornis sp.¹³ Ameghino 1895 terror bird Andrewsornis abotti² terror bird
Anseriformes - Anatidae	Loxornis clivus¹³ Loxornis clivus¹³ Ameghino 1894 waterfowl

¹Albino and Brizuela 2014; ²Alvarenga and Holfing 2003; ³Billet et al. 2008; ⁴Billet et al. 2009; ⁵Bown and Fleagle 1993; ⁶Busker and Dozo 2017; ⁷Carlini et al. 2009; ⁸Cifelli and Soria 1983; ⁹de Broin and de la Fuente 1993; ¹⁰Dozo and Vera 2010; ¹¹Forasiepi et al. 2015; ¹²Kramarz and Bond 2017; ¹³Loomis 1914; ¹⁴MacPhee et al. 2021; ¹⁵Marani and Dozo 2008; ¹⁶Patterson and Marshall 1978; ¹⁷Patterson and Wood 1982; ¹⁸Reguero and Castro 2004; ¹⁹Reguero and Cerdeño 2005; ²⁰Reguero et al. 2007; ²¹Ribeiro et al. 2010; ²²Simpson 1932; ²³Vera et al. 2017; ²⁴Vucetich 1989; ²⁵Vucetich et al. 2015; ²⁶Wood and Patterson 1959