Abstract

BRAVO-CUEVAS, Victor M.  and  JIMENEZ-HIDALGO, Eduardo. First reported occurrence of Palaeolama mirifica (Camelidae, Lamini) from the Late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean) of Puebla, central Mexico. Bol. Soc. Geol. Mex [online]. 2015, vol.67, n.1, pp.13-20. ISSN 1405-3322.

Palaeolama was a relatively rare camelid in North America during the Pleistocene. Here we report the first occurrence of P. mirifica in the Late Pleistocene of Puebla, central Mexico. This is the southernmost record of P. mirifica in North America, and fills in a geographic gap with a record of the species in Costa Rica. The fossil-bearing unit is composed of silt, fine sand, and scarce pebbles. This unit is partially correlative with the alluvial sequence of Axamilpa, Puebla, considered to be MIS 2 - 3 in age. Isotopic data and Mesowear III values indicate that P. mirifica from Barranca Xocoa was an intermediate feeder.

Keywords : Camelidae; Palaeolama; Puebla; Late Pleistocene; central Mexico.