Resumo

GORDILLO, Sandra. Taphonomic analysis of Holocene chitons (Polyplacophora: Mollusca) from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Ameghiniana [online]. 2007, vol.44, n.2, pp.407-416. ISSN 1851-8044.

Chitons from the marine Holocene of Tierra del Fuego represent a minor fraction of the mollusc assemblages, mostly composed of bivalves and gastropods. The reasons of their limited relative abundance are considered in this work. The analysis of their taphonomic and paleontologic attributes indicates that the taphonomic condition on a chiton plate is the result of a combination of biological, ecological and environmental factors. It is concluded that chitons are good paleoecological and paleoenvironmental indicators, since they maintain ecological fidelity with respect to their original paleocommunities and they are suitable to evaluate the post-mortem events that took place up to they are found within the fossil record.

Palavras-chave : Taphonomy; Mollusca; Polyplacophora; Holocene; Tierra del Fuego; Argentina.