Revised timing of the South American early Paleogene land mammal ages

A new Ar/Ar date on the Las Flores Tuff (Río Chico Group, Las Flores Fm., central Patagonia, Argentina) yielded an age of 49.512 ± 0.019 Ma. This tuff, which stratigraphically overlies the mammal-bearing deposits that produced the Las Flores fauna, helps constrain the age of the Itaboraian SALMA [South American Land Mammal Age] to which that fauna is referred. The new data also have implications for the age of succeeding mammal biochrons, such as the Riochican and “Sapoan” which are revised to being somewhat younger than previously interpreted. Although closer in age than formerly interpreted, they still are biotically distinct. Concomitant evaluations suggest that the Itaboraian SALMA is perhaps more contemporary with the EECO (Early Eocene Climatic Optimum) than previously considered. The Riochican may be interpreted as post-EECO, with its cooler climate consistent in that regard. A recent reconsideration of the chronology of elements of the Salamanca Formation resulted in the downward revision of the ages of the Peligran SALMA and the Carodnia Zone biochrons. These operations, together with our results, reflect a 9 m.y. gap in the late Paleocene and early Eocene land mammal record in South America.