Abstract

CARBOT-CHANONA, Gerardo; ENG-PONCE, Joaquín  and  GOMEZ-PEREZ, Luis Enrique. Description of the Neochoerus specimens from the late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean) of Chiapas, and comments on the taxonomic identity of the fossil capybaras from other Mexican localities. Bol. Soc. Geol. Mex [online]. 2020, vol.72, n.1, e021019.  Epub Dec 22, 2020. ISSN 1405-3322.  https://doi.org/10.18268/bsgm2020v72n1a021019.

The capybara Neochoerus aesopi is an extinct giant rodent that inhabited North, Central, and South America during the Rancholabrean/Lujanian (late Pleistocene). In Mexico, only N. aesopi has been reported from Tlapa coya, Mexico State; Chapala lake, Jalisco; and La Cinta-Portalitos, on the border of Michoacán and Gua najuato. Here, we describe N. aesopi remains from the late Pleistocene at Los Mangos locality, Villaflores municipality, Chiapas, Mexico. In addition, the capybara material from Jalisco and Puebla, referred as Hydrochoerus sp. and Neochoerus sp., respectively, is reexamined. The man dibular and dental morphological characteristics and measurements of the specimens examined from Jalisco and Puebla allow this material to be referred as N. aesopi. The definitive identification of this species broadens its spacial range in North America.

Keywords : Capybara; Neochoerus; Hydrochoerus; taxonomy; Pleistocene; Mexico.

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