Postcranial functional adaptations in the South American Miocene borhyaenoids (Mammalia, Metatheria):: Cladosictis,Pseudonotictis and Sipalocyon
Postcranial functional adaptations in the South American Miocene borhyaenoids (Mammalia, Metatheria):: Cladosictis,Pseudonotictis and Sipalocyon
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DOI：
10.1080/03115510308619110
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发表时间：
2003-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
1.3
通讯作者：
Argot, C
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Argot, C
从功能适应的角度分析了圣克鲁斯属的三种borhyaenoids: Cladosictis patagonica、Pseudonotictis pusillus和Sipalocyon gracilis。五个现存的胎盘动物和一个有袋动物模型也进行了检查，以解释这些化石的运动适应。pusillus Pseudonotictis是Santacrucian borhyaenoid中最小的一种，从碎片残骸中发现；从它的小尺寸、牙齿的特化和肘部的解剖结构来看，这个物种在生态学上与现存的鼬鼠当然不远。尽管人们对它知之甚少，但它的后颅骨表明它有攀爬能力，而拟对生的pollex表明它有熟练的操纵行为。巴塔哥尼根枝虫是一种活跃的掠食性动物，腿短，能够攀爬，尽管它是一种不像同时期的巴塔哥尼根原虫那样专门化的树栖动物；它四肢的比例让人想起现存的南美鼬。枝虫的拟对生的多毛，如Sipalocyon，表明有熟练的操纵行为。
Three Santacrucian borhyaenoids, Cladosictis patagonica, Pseudonotictis pusillus and Sipalocyon gracilis, are analyzed from a functional-adaptive perspective. Five extant placentals and one marsupial model are also examined in order to interpret the locomotor adaptations of these fossils. Pseudonotictis pusillus is the smallest of the Santacrucian borhyaenoids and is known from fragmentary remains; from its small size, dental specializations and elbow anatomy, this species was certainly not far ecologically' from an extant weasel. The postcranium of Sipalocyon gracilis, although poorly known, suggests climbing capabilities, and the pseudo-opposable pollex indicates skilful manipulative behaviour. Cladosictis patagonica was an active predatory form, short-legged and able to climb, although it was a less specialized arboreal form than the contemporaneous Prothylacinus patagonicus; the proportions of its limbs recall that of a living South American marten, the tayra. The pseudo-opposable pollex of Cladosictis, as in Sipalocyon, indicates skilful manipulative behaviour.