Los gonfotéridos (Mammalia, Proboscidea) de Uruguay: Taxonomía, estratigrafía y cronología

Abstract

A large sample composed of relatively fragmentary remains of Gomphotheriidae was found in Uruguay. Belonging to this family there are materials assigned to Camacho Formation (Late Miocene), and to Pleistocene to Early Holocene units (Sopas, Libertad and Dolores formations). The Camacho and Sopas formations contain remains of indeterminate Gomphotheriidae, and the species Stegomastodon platensis is identified for the Libertad and Dolores formations. We think taxonomically suitable to support the opinion that all gomphotherids inhabitants of South American plains pertain to the genus Stegomastodon and to consider that species as the only representative of the genus in South America.