Abstract

RINCON R., Ascanio D.; ALBERDI, María Teresa  and  PRADO, José Luis. New record of Equus (Amerhippus) santaeelenae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the Pozo de asfalto de Inciarte site (Late Pleistocene), Zulia State, Venezuela. Ameghiniana [online]. 2006, vol.43, n.3, pp.529-538. ISSN 1851-8044.

Fossil remains of Equidae from the asphaltic well of Inciarte quarry are described and taxonomically determined. We compared the lower p3-4 from Inciarte with Equus (Amerhippus) andium, Equus (A.) santaeelenae, E. (A.) insulatus and Equus (A.) neogeus remains from several localities in South America using multivariate analysis. The results of this analysis indicate that Equus (Amerhippus) santaeelenae (Spillmann) is represented in the quarry. Its paleoecological implications are discussed. The resource partitioning preference of this species supports the several nutritional hypotheses to explain latest Pleistocene extinctions.

Keywords : Equus (Amerhippus) santaeelenae; Taxonomy; Late Pleistocene; Inciarte; Venezuela; South America.