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NEW PLEISTOCENE CAVE FAUNAS OF THE ANDES
OF CENTRAL PERÚ:
RADIOCARBON AGES AND THE SURVIVAL OF LOW LATITUDE, PLEISTOCENE DNA
Bruce J. Shockey, Rodolfo
Salas-Gismondi, Patrice Baby,
Jean-Loup Guyot,
María Cristina Baltazar,
Luis Huamán,
Andrew Clack, Marcelo Stucchi,
François Pujos,
Jenna María Emerson, and
John J. Flynn
ABSTRACT
Peruvian citizens have led our team to their
discoveries of Pleistocene cave faunas in the central Andes of Perú.
These caves (Jatun Uchco, Departamento de Huánuco; Cueva Roselló,
Departamento de Junín; and Trigo Jirka, Departamento de Huánuco)
preserve numerous carnivorans (Puma, a sabercat [Smilodon
populator], an unnamed large extinct felid, fox [Lycalopex
sp.], hognose skunk [Conepatus sp.]), deer (cf. Pudu and
cf. Hippocamelus), vicuña, an extinct horse (†Onohippidium
devillei), a chinchillid rodent (cf. Lagidium), bats (Anoura,
Desmodus, and Platalina), and sloths (†Megatherium,
†Scelidodon, and, †Diabolotherium). Bats were found only
in the lowest cave (Jatun Uchco, 2,150 m), and ungulates were found
only at Cueva Roselló—the only cave studied in a region of flat
terrain. Trigo Jirka preserved ancient feces of a large animal and the
keratin claw of †Diabolotherium.
Collagen for radiocarbon dating and DNA for
phylogenetic studies have been isolated from bone from Cueva Roselló
(3,875 m) and Trigo Jirka (2,700 m). Conventional radiometric ages
from Cueva Roselló are 23,340 ± 120 and 22,220 ± 130 years before
present and that of Trigo Jirka is 29,140 ± 260. Ancient DNA (aDNA)
from †Onohippidium of Cueva Roselló (12° South latitude) and †Diabolotherium
of Trigo Jirka (10° South) is being used in phylogenetic studies. The
successful recovery of aDNA suggests that the cool temperatures, low
humidity, and the shield from UV radiation of caves at high elevation
can permit aDNA studies at low latitudes. Previously, such studies
have been limited to latitudes greater than 35° for Pleistocene
samples.
Bruce J.
Shockey. Manhattan College, Manhattan College Parkway, New York
City, NY, USA, 10471 and Division of Paleontology, American Museum of
Natural History, New York, NY, USA.
Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi.
Departamento de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo de Historia
Natural–UNMSM, Av. Arenales 1256, Lima 14, Perú
Patrice Baby. Laboratoire des
Mécanismes et Transferts en Géologie, IRD, Université de Toulouse,
CNRS, OMP, 14 Av. E. Belin, F-31400 Toulouse, France
Jean-Loup Guyot.
Laboratoire des Mécanismes et Transferts en Géologie, IRD, Université
de Toulouse, CNRS, OMP, CP 7091 Lago Sul, 71619-970 Brasilia DF,
Brazil
María Cristina Baltazar.
Instituto Nacional de Cultura, Lima, Perú
Luis Huamán. Laboratorio de
Palinología y Paleobotánica, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia,
Lima, Perú
Andrew Clack.
McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology, McMaster
University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
Marcelo Stucchi.
François Pujos. Departamento de
Geología y Paleontología, Instituto Argentino de Nivología Glaciología
y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), CCT–CONICET–Mendoza, Avenida Ruiz
Leal s/n, Parque Gral. San Martín, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina.
Jenna María Emerson.
Carroll College, Biology Department. 1601 N. Benton Ave., Helena, MT
59625, USA.
John J. Flynn. Division of
Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at
79th St., New York, NY, USA.
KEY WORDS: Pleistocene; cave fauna; Great American Biotic
Interchange; South American mammals; Ancient DNA; palynology;
radiocarbon ages
PE Article Number: 12.3.15A
Copyright: Society for Vertebrate Paleontology December 2009
Submission: 11 February 2009. Acceptance: 6 November 2009 |
