Talara Tar Seeps (Pleistocene of Peru)

Where: Peru (4.7° S, 80.5° W)

• local area-level geographic resolution

When: Late/Upper Pleistocene (0.1 - 0.0 Ma)

Environment/lithology: tar; lithology not reported

• dated by faunal comparison

Size class: macrofossils

Collection methods: quarrying, sieve

Primary reference: R. R. H. Lemon and C. S. Churcher. 1961. Pleistocene Geology and Paleontology of the Talara Region, Northwest Peru. American Journal of Science 259:410-429 [J. Alroy/K. Sears/M. Uhen]more details

Purpose of describing collection: general faunal/floral analysis

PaleoDB collection 71346: authorized by John Alroy, entered by Karen Sears on 12.03.1999, edited by Richard Hulbert, Matthew Clapham, Evangelos Vlachos, Jonathan Marcot and John Alroy

Creative Commons license: CC0 (CC0)

Taxonomic list

Show authors, comments, and common names
Insecta
 Lepidoptera - Sphingidae
Sphingidae indet.3
Sphingidae indet.3 Latreille 1802 moth
 Dicondylia -
Coleoptera indet.3
Coleoptera indet.3 Linnaeus 1758 beetle
 Coleoptera - Hydrophilidae
Hydrophilus sp.3, Tropisternus sp.6
Hydrophilus sp.3 Geoffroy 1762 water scavenger beetle
Tropisternus sp.6 Solier 1834 water scavenger beetle
 Coleoptera - Scarabaeidae
Scarabaeidae indet.3, Copris incertus6
Scarabaeidae indet.3 Latreille 1802 scarab beetle
Copris incertus6 Say 1835 scarab beetle
 Coleoptera - Tenebrionidae
Tenebrionidae indet.3
Tenebrionidae indet.3 Latreille 1802 darkling beetle
 Coleoptera - Curculionidae
"Ryssematus sp." = Rhyssomatus3, Sphenophorus sp.3, "Otiorhynchinae indet." = Otiorhynchini3
"Ryssematus sp." = Rhyssomatus3 Schoenherr 1837 snout beetle
Sphenophorus sp.3 Schonherr 1837 snout beetle
"Otiorhynchinae indet." = Otiorhynchini3 snout beetle
 Coleoptera - Dytiscidae
Dytiscidae indet.3
Dytiscidae indet.3 Leach 1815 predaceous diving beetle
 Coleoptera - Carabidae
Carabidae indet.3
Carabidae indet.3 Latreille 1802 ground beetle
 Orthoptera - Acrididae
Acrididae indet.3
Acrididae indet.3 Latreille 1802 short-horned grasshopper
Mammalia
 Proboscidea - Gomphotheriidae
"Haplomastodon sp." = Notiomastodon
"Haplomastodon sp." = Notiomastodon Cabrera 1929 gomphothere
  - Mylodontidae
Scelidotherium sp., Glossotherium sp.
Scelidotherium sp. Owen 1839 edentate
Glossotherium sp. Owen 1840 edentate
 Megatherioidea - Megatheriidae
Eremotherium sp.
Eremotherium sp. Spillmann 1948 edentate
 Cingulata - Pampatheriidae
Chlamytherium sp.
Chlamytherium sp. Lund 1838 edentate
 Chiroptera - Vespertilionidae
Eptesicus sp.
Eptesicus sp. Rafinesque 1820 house bat
 Perissodactyla - Tapiridae
Tapirus sp.
Tapirus sp. Brisson 1762 tapir
 Perissodactyla - Equidae
Equus sp.
Equus sp. Linnaeus 1758 horse
Amerhippus
 Artiodactyla - Camelidae
Palaeolama (Astylolama) aequatorialis2
 Artiodactyla - Cervidae
Odocoileus sp.
Odocoileus sp. Rafinesque 1832 New World deer
 Carnivora - Canidae
"Pseudalopex sp." = Lycalopex, "Canis dirus" = Aenocyon dirus5
"Pseudalopex sp." = Lycalopex Burmeister 1854 South American fox
Dusicyon
"Canis dirus" = Aenocyon dirus5 Leidy 1858 dire wolf
 Carnivora - Felidae
"Panthera atrox" = Panthera leo atrox5, Smilodon fatalis5
"Panthera atrox" = Panthera leo atrox5 Leidy 1853 lion
Smilodon fatalis5 Leidy 1868 saber-toothed cat
 Rodentia - Cricetidae
Phyllotis sp., Sigmodon sp.
Phyllotis sp. Waterhouse 1837 rodent
Sigmodon sp. Say and Ord 1825 cotton rat
 Rodentia - Caviidae
Neochoerus sp.
Neochoerus sp. Hay 1926 caviomorph
 Didelphimorphia - Didelphidae
Marmosa sp.
Marmosa sp. Gray 1821 mouse opossum
Reptilia
 Testudines - Geoemydidae
Rhinoclemmys sp.4
Rhinoclemmys sp.4 Fitzinger 1835 turtle
 Testudines - Testudinidae
Chelonoidis sp.4
Chelonoidis sp.4 Fitzinger 1835 turtle
Carapacial bones: three costals (ROM-42025, 42028 and 42029) and three peripheral bones (ROM-42026, 42030, and 2024).Limb bones: thirty-four osteoderms (ROM-40572- 40599, 40620, 40600-40604 and 42190); one podial bone (ROM-40620). Unidentified bones: six unidentified shell bones (ROM- 42021-42024, 42027 and 42031).
Aves
 Cathartiformes - Cathartidae
Cathartes aura1, Coragyps cf. atratus1, Sarcoramphus fischeri n. sp.1, Vultur gryphus1, Gymnogyps howardae n. sp.1, Geronogyps reliquus n. gen. n. sp.1
Cathartes aura1 Linnaeus 1758 turkey vulture
Coragyps cf. atratus1 Bechstein 1793 black vulture
Sarcoramphus fischeri n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 king vulture
generic affiliation uncertain as denoted by question mark in original description
Vultur gryphus1 Linnaeus 1758 Andean condor
Gymnogyps howardae n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 condor
Geronogyps reliquus n. gen. n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 vulture
 Ciconiiformes - Ciconiidae
Mycteria americana1, Jabiru mycteria1
Mycteria americana1 Linnaeus 1758 wood stork
Jabiru mycteria1 Lichtenstein 1819 jabiru
 Pelecaniformes - Threskiornithidae
Eudocimus peruvianus n. sp.1, Eudocimus albus1, "Ajaia ajaja" = Platalea ajaja1, Theristicus wetmorei n. sp.1
Eudocimus peruvianus n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 ibis
Eudocimus albus1 Linnaeus 1758 White ibis
"Ajaia ajaja" = Platalea ajaja1 Linnaeus 1758 roseate spoonbill
Theristicus wetmorei n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 ibis
 Pelecaniformes - Ardeidae
Nycticorax nycticorax1, "Casmerodius albus" = Ardea alba1, Ardea cocoi1, Egretta caerulea1, Egretta thula1, Syrigma sanctimartini n. sp.1
Nycticorax nycticorax1 Linnaeus 1758 black-crowned night heron
"Casmerodius albus" = Ardea alba1 Linnaeus 1758 great egret
Ardea cocoi1 Linnaeus 1766 cocoi heron
Egretta caerulea1 Linnaeus 1758 little blue heron
Egretta thula1 Molina 1782 snowy egret
Syrigma sanctimartini n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 whistling heron
 Suliformes - Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocorax bougainvillii1, "Phalacrocorax olivaceus" = Phalacrocorax brasilianus1
Phalacrocorax bougainvillii1 Lesson 1837 Guanay cormorant
"Phalacrocorax olivaceus" = Phalacrocorax brasilianus1 Gmelin 1789 neotropic cormorant
 Podicipediformes - Podicipedidae
Podilymbus podiceps1, "Podiceps dominicus" = Tachybaptus dominicus1
Podilymbus podiceps1 Linnaeus 1758 pied-billed grebe
"Podiceps dominicus" = Tachybaptus dominicus1 Linnaeus 1766 least grebe
 Strigiformes - Tytonidae
Tyto alba1
Tyto alba1 Scopoli 1769 barn owl
 Strigiformes - Strigidae
Asio flammeus1, Bubo virginianus1, "Speotyto cunicularia" = Athene cunicularia1
Asio flammeus1 Pontoppidan 1763 short-eared owl
Bubo virginianus1 Gmelin 1788 great horned owl
"Speotyto cunicularia" = Athene cunicularia1 Molina 1782 burrowing owl
 Psittaciformes - Psittacidae
Forpus coelestis1
Forpus coelestis1 Lesson 1847 Pacific parrotlet
 Columbiformes - Columbidae
Columbina talpacoti1, Columbina cruziana1, Zenaida asiatica1, Zenaida auriculata1
Columbina talpacoti1 Temminck 1810 ruddy ground-dove
Columbina cruziana1 Prévost 1832 croaking ground-dove
Zenaida asiatica1 Linnaeus 1758 white-winged dove
Zenaida auriculata1 Des Murs 1847 eared dove
 Gruiformes - Rallidae
Porzana carolina1
Porzana carolina1 Linnaeus 1758 sora
 Anseriformes - Anatidae
Nomonyx dominicus1, "Chloephaga melanoptera" = Oressochen melanopterus1, Cairina moschata1, Dendrocygna autumnalis1, Anas talarae n. sp.1, Anas bahamensis1, Anas sanctaehelenae n. sp.1, Anas amotape n. sp.1, Nannonetta invisitata n. gen. n. sp.1
Nomonyx dominicus1 Linnaeus 1766 masked duck
"Chloephaga melanoptera" = Oressochen melanopterus1 Eyton 1838 Andean goose
Cairina moschata1 Linnaeus 1758 muscovy duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis1 Linnaeus 1758 Black-bellied whistling duck
Anas talarae n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 dabbling duck
Anas bahamensis1 Linnaeus 1758 white-cheeked pintail
Anas sanctaehelenae n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 dabbling duck
Anas amotape n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 dabbling duck
Nannonetta invisitata n. gen. n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 crested duck
 Caprimulgiformes - Caprimulgidae
Caprimulgus piurensis n. sp.1, Chordeiles acutipennis1
Caprimulgus piurensis n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 nightjar
Chordeiles acutipennis1 Hermann 1783 lesser nighthawk
 Tinamiformes - Tinamidae
Crypturellus cf. transfasciatus1
Crypturellus cf. transfasciatus1 Sclater and Salvin 1878 pale-browed tinamou
 Falconiformes - Falconidae
Falco sp.1, Falco sparverius1, Falco peregrinus1, Falco femoralis1, Polyborus plancus1, Milvago brodkorbi n. sp.1
Falco sp.1 Linnaeus 1758 falcon
Falco sparverius1 Linnaeus 1758 American kestrel
Falco peregrinus1 Tunstall 1771 Peregrine falcon
Falco femoralis1 Temminck 1822 Aplomado falcon
Polyborus plancus1 Miller 1777 southern caracara
Milvago brodkorbi n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 caracara
 Accipitriformes - Accipitridae
Buteo sp.1, Amplibuteo hibbardi n. gen. n. sp.1, Miraquila terrestris n. gen. n. sp.1, Parabuteo unicinctus1, Geranoaetus melanoleucus1, "Buteo polyosoma" = Geranoaetus polyosoma1
Buteo sp.1 de Lacepède 1799 hawk
two unidentified Buteo species present
Amplibuteo hibbardi n. gen. n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 hawk
Miraquila terrestris n. gen. n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 eagle
Parabuteo unicinctus1 Temminck 1824 Harris's hawk
Geranoaetus melanoleucus1 Vieillot 1819 black-chested buzzard eagle
"Buteo polyosoma" = Geranoaetus polyosoma1 Quoy and Gaimard 1824 variable hawk
 Charadriiformes - Burhinidae
Burhinus superciliaris1
Burhinus superciliaris1 von Tschudi 1843 Peruvian thick-knee
 Charadriiformes - Laridae
"Larus pipixcan" = Leucophaeus pipixcan1, Larus atricilla1
"Larus pipixcan" = Leucophaeus pipixcan1 Wagler 1831 Franklin's gull
Larus atricilla1 Linnaeus 1758 laughing gull
 Charadriiformes - Thinocoridae
Thinocoridae indet.1, Thinocorus rumicivorus1, Thinocorus koepckae n. sp.1
Thinocoridae indet.1 Gray 1845 shorebird
Thinocorus rumicivorus1 Eschscholtz 1829 least seedsnipe
Thinocorus koepckae n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 seedsnipe
 Charadriiformes - Scolopacidae
Numenius cf. borealis1, "Actitis macularia" = Actitis macularius1, Nuntius solitarius n. gen. n. sp.1, "Micropalama himantopus" = Calidris himantopus1, "Erolia minutilla" = Calidris minutilla1, "Erolia melanotos" = Calidris melanotos1, Micropalama chapmani n. sp.1, "Lobipes lobatus" = Phalaropus lobatus1, "Steganopus tricolor" = Phalaropus tricolor1, Arenaria interpres1, Tringa ameghini n. sp.1, Tringa solitaria1, "Totanus melanoleucas" = Tringa melanoleuca1, "Totanus flavipes" = Tringa flavipes1, "Catoptrophorus semipalmatus" = Tringa semipalmata1
Numenius cf. borealis1 Forster 1772 eskimo curlew
"Actitis macularia" = Actitis macularius1 Linnaeus 1766 spotted sandpiper
Nuntius solitarius n. gen. n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 snipe
"Micropalama himantopus" = Calidris himantopus1 Bonaparte 1826 stilt sandpiper
"Erolia minutilla" = Calidris minutilla1 Viellot 1816 least sandpiper
"Erolia melanotos" = Calidris melanotos1 Vieillot 1819 pectoral sandpiper
Micropalama chapmani n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 stilt sandpiper
"Lobipes lobatus" = Phalaropus lobatus1 Linnaeus 1758 red-necked phalarope
"Steganopus tricolor" = Phalaropus tricolor1 Vieillot 1819 Wilson's phalarope
Arenaria interpres1 Linnaeus 1758 ruddy turnstone
Tringa ameghini n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 sandpiper
Tringa solitaria1 Wilson 1813 solitary sandpiper
"Totanus melanoleucas" = Tringa melanoleuca1 Gmelin 1789 greater yellowlegs
"Totanus flavipes" = Tringa flavipes1 Gmelin 1789 lesser yellowlegs
"Catoptrophorus semipalmatus" = Tringa semipalmata1 Gmelin 1789 willet
 Charadriiformes - Charadriidae
Charadrius vociferus1, Charadrius semipalmatus1, Charadrius collaris1, Viator picis n. gen. n. sp.1, Belonopterus edmondi n. sp.1, Pluvialis dominica1, Pluvialis squatarola1
Charadrius vociferus1 Linnaeus 1758 killdeer
Charadrius semipalmatus1 Bonaparte 1825 semipalmated plover
Charadrius collaris1 Vieillot 1818 collared plover
Viator picis n. gen. n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 lapwing
Belonopterus edmondi n. sp.1 Campbell 1979 crested plover
Pluvialis dominica1 Mueller 1776 American golden plover
Pluvialis squatarola1 Linnaeus 1758 black-bellied plover
 Charadriiformes - Jacanidae
Jacana spinosa1
Jacana spinosa1 Linnaeus 1758 Northern jacana
Reptilia
 Galliformes - Cracidae
Penelope cf. purpurascens1
Penelope cf. purpurascens1 Wagler 1830 crested guan
1Campbell 1979; 2Churcher 1965; 3Churcher 1966; 4Deza et al. 2019; 5Kurtén and Werdelin 1990; 6Seymour 2015