Insect action in vertebrae of Stegomastodon waringi (Mammalia, Gomphotheriidae) from the Pleistocene of Águas de Araxá, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

INSECT ACTION IN VERTEBRAE OF STEGOMASTODON WARINGI (MAMMALIA. GOMPHOTHERIIDAE) FROM THE PLEISTOCENE OF AGUAS DE ARAXA, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL. Borings in several cervical vertebrae of Pleistocene mastodons, found in deposits from Aguas de Araxa city (Minas Gerais State), are recognized here. These borings are assigned to coleopterans pupae chambers. They are represented by hollow oval-shaped structures (without filling), excavated in the spongy part of the bone. The presence of these excavations suggests that the bone fragments of mastodons from Araxa had a relatively long time of exposure, which was Sufficient to allow beetles posture, but not long enough to allow the weathering destroy them.