New data on Quaternary lagomorphs from Lagoa Santa, State Of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Lagomorpha have a long evolutionary history, dating back to the Paleogene and currently exhibit a cosmopolitan distribution, inhabiting all continents except Antarctica. The present study analyzed and revised 148 fossil and subfossil specimens from Gruta Cuvieri, in Lagoa Santa (MG), attributed to the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. The methodology included sorting, anatomical identification of all skeletal elements, taxonomy, and taphonomy. The taxonomic analysis of a skull confirmed the presence of the species Sylvilagus brasiliensis, although it is not possible to rule out the occurrence of other species in the remaining assemblage, given the abundance of non-diagnostic bone elements. The taphonomy of the Cuvieri Cave revealed distinct patterns, with less reworked specimens in the Holocene deposits and greater dispersion in the Pleistocene deposits. The results indicate relevant differences in the fossil distribution and high fragmentation, suggesting distinct taphonomic processes associated with multiple depositional events.