Eocene archaeohyracids (Mammalia: Notoungulata: Hegetotheria) from the Puna, northwest Argentina

A new genus and species of basal hegetothere mammal, Punahyrax bondesioi, is described from the middle-late? Eocene Geste Formation of northwestern (Catamarca and Salta provinces) Argentina. The new species is based on isolated teeth and mandibles and represents the first well-identified archaeohyracid from northwestern Argentina, and the earliest extra-Patagonian record of the family. It is characterized by its small-size and a short talonid on the molars. Though still poorly documented, this new taxon may provide key-data for the problem of the origin and basal of hegetotheres phylogeny. These fossils show the importance of northwestern Argentina (Puna area) in the early evolution of the extinct order Notoungulata and the poor state of our knowledge there. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.