Soriacebus ameghinorum


TAXONOMY:

MORPHOLOGY:
Soriacebus ameghinorum had a dental formula of ?:1:3:3 on the upper jaw and 2:1:3:3 on the lower jaw (Fleagle, 1988). The lower incisors of this species were large and procumbent (Fleagle, 1988). The upper canines were large and dagger-like (Fleagle and Kay, 1997). This species also had large premolars and molars which resembled those of members of the extant genus Callithrix and were also narrow (Fleagle, 1988). The upper molars also had a triangular shape (Fleagle and Kay, 1997). The molars had a postprotocingulum (Fleagle et al., 1987; cited in Martin, 1990). The jaw of this species was deep (Fleagle, 1988). This species had an average body mass of around 2.0 kilograms (Fleagle, 1988).

RANGE:
Soriacebus ameghinorum lived on the continent of South America and was found in the country of Argentina (Fleagle, 1988). This species occurred during the early Miocene (Fleagle, 1988).

DIET:
Based upon dental morphology this species was probably both frugivorous and insectivorous (Fleagle, 1988).

LOCOMOTION:
Based upon postcranial remains this species was most likely an arboreal quadruped and possibly a leaper (Fleagle and Kay, 1997).

REFERENCES:
Fleagle, J.G. 1988. Primate Adaptation and Evolution. Academic Press: New York.

Fleagle, J.G. and Kay, R.F. 1997. Platyrrhines, Catarrhines, and the Fossil Record. In New World Primates: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. Ed. W.G. Kinzey. Aldine de Gruyter: New York.

Fleagle, J.G., Powers, D.W., Conroy, G.C., and Watters, J.P. 1987. New Fossil Platyrrhines from Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. Folia Primatol., Vol. 48, 65-77

Martin, R.D. 1990. Primate Origins and Evolution: A Phylogenetic Reconstruction. Princeton University Press: Princeton, New Jersey.

Last updated: November 15, 2001

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