Mamíferos quaternários da cavidade ES-08, Município de Prudente de Morais, Minas Gerais: análise tafonômica e taxonômica

Abstract

The mammals are best representedin the Quaternary fossil record among vertebrates. Due to its close similarity with extant faunas, the discovery of fossil mammals allows accurate studies on taxonomy, ecological relationships and climate reconstructions. In addition, macroscopic signatures printed on the bones may help to infer the taphonomic history of the organic remains from death to burial. This works aims at analyzing the cave ES-08, located in the outcrop Escrivânia, Prudente de Morais Municipality, Minas Gerais, searching: 1) to understand by which mechanisms the sedimentary deposit within it (a fossiliferous suspended carbonated soil) was formed; 2) to identify the mammal taxa in its fossil content; 3) to assess the taphonomic alteration and their causative agents and 4) to propose a method for taphonomic analysis of fossil remains in carbonated soils preserved in caves. The results showed that the deposit formation has occurred prior to carbonates cementation, probably conducted by flood currents that carried mud and bones by gravity and/or tractive flow. Subsequent floods could have reworked the material. This depositional model was corroborated by other observations, such as the lack of preferential distribution or direction of the bioclasts; the high degree of fragmentation, abrasion and significant mixing of the different skeletal parts; the absence of articulated skeletal parts and the mixing of taphonomic Voorhies groups. Taxonomic analysis of the material was made in 40 of the 191 recovered bones. The following taxa have been identified: Mylodontidae Gill, 1872; Dasypus novemcinctus (Lineaus, 1758); Lagomorpha Brandt 1885; Eira barbara Linnaeus 1758; Speothos sp.; Cuniculus major Lund, 1837 and Tayassu pecari (Link, 1795).