Books
Author's Comments:
Coastal exposures of the Santa Cruz Formation in southern Patagonia have been a fertile ground for recovery of Early Miocene vertebrates for more than 100 years: studies began in the 1840s when specimens were sent for study to Charles Darwin. The formation is noted for yielding remarkably complete specimens, and a richly varied taxonomic assemblage very different from other continents, due to the long isolation of South America.
This volume presents the most comprehensive compilation of important mammalian groups which continue to thrive today. It includes the most recent fossil finds as well as important new interpretations based on 10 years of fieldwork by the authors. A key focus is place on the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment during the time of deposition in the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) between 20 and 15 million years ago - a transient warming event similar to our current climate. Using newly recovered pollen, phytoliths and plant macrofossils together with invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, the authors present the first reconstruction of what climactic conditions were like for this most southerly continental record of the MMCO. They also present important new evidence of the geochronological age, habits and community structures of fossil bird and mammal species.
Academic researchers and graduate students in paleontology, paleobiology, paleoecology, stratigraphy, climatology and geochronology will all find this a valuable resource of information about this fascinating geological formation.