The Lissamphibian Fossil Record of South America

Author(s)

Barcelos, Lucas Almeida ; dos Santos, Rodolfo Otavio

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PALAEOBIODIVERSITY AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTS; v. N/A, p. 65-pg., 2022-06-28.

Abstract

Anurans, along with urodeles and caecilians are the extant representatives of the clade Lissamphibia. Nowadays, lissamphibians are widely distributed in all continents, except Antarctica, but are particularly diversified in South America, where almost 3,000 species are found. This huge biodiversity is directly related to the complex geologic history of South America, which includes key events like the Gondwanan breakup, its isolation during parts of Mesozoic and Cenozoic, the Andean uplift, and the formation of the Panama isthmus. Here, we present the most comprehensive bibliographic review of fossil lissamphibians from South America to date, covering unpublished (e.g. theses and dissertations) and published data (i.e. peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters, monographs, and conferences abstracts). We use a mixed approach, both qualitative (with brief comments on each taxon and specimen) and quantitative (including scientometric parameters). Compared to the latest published reviews with similar scope, our results indicate that approximately 85.4% of the records correspond to specimens new to science or older ones that have been revisited. These materials come from 164 different fossil-bearing localities, spread over eight of the twelve South American countries, and range from the Early Jurassic to the Quaternary. In total, we compile 273 records, mostly anurans (similar to 97.6%), followed by indeterminate caecilians (similar to 1.4%) and urodeles (similar to 1%). Additionally, we discuss issues directly related to those fossil occurrences, such as their temporal and geographic range, as well as the presence of putative biological and taphonomic biases. Finally, we also provide calibration constraints for several anuran taxa. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/07997-4 - Dinosaur diversity and associated faunas in the Cretaceous of South America
• Grantee: Max Cardoso Langer
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/14153-0 - Neogene vertebrate microremains of the Brazilian Amazon region, with emphasis on the temporal resolution of the Solimões Formation, Miocene of the Acre Basin
• Grantee: Annie Schmaltz Hsiou
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/24466-5 - Pipoidea phylogeny, a integrative approach based on morphology, new fossils and molecular markers
• Grantee: Lucas Almeida Barcelos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/04849-1 - Description and phylogenetic position of a Ceratophrys (Ceratophryidae: Anura) from Versalles cave (late Pleistocene- early Holocene), Apiaí, SP, with comments on paleobiogeography and Paleoenvironment of South America
• Grantee: Lucas Almeida Barcelos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master