Patriarchus furculosus Ameghino 1891

Patriarchus furculosus Ameghino, 1891

Syntypes. MACN-A 3970 (Fig. 3 G), left fragmented maxilla with P2–M3, MACN-A 3971, fragments of the right maxilla, MACN-A 3972 (Fig. 3 H), right mandibular fragment with p2–m3, MACN-A 3973, distal region of the humerus, MACN-A 3974, calcaneus, and MACN-A 3975–76, broken vertebrae, all from the same individual; and MACN-A 3977 (Fig. 3 I), incomplete skull.

Diagnosis (Ameghino 1891: 292–293). “ Es la especie de mayor tamaño. El p2 es mucho más prolongado en el lado interno; los frontales se prolongan adelante entre los nasales por un trecho considerable en forma de cuña sobre la línea media. Las ondulaciones externas de los verdaderos molares inferiores son apenas acentuadas. Longitud del espacio ocupado por la dentadura inferior, 57 milímetros. Diámetro interorbitario de los frontales, 33 milímetros. Longitud de los nasales sobre la línea media, 28 milímetros ”.

English translation. It is the largest species. The p2 is much longer on the internal side. Frontals extend forward between the nasals in a long, wedge-shaped median projection. The external undulations of the lower molars are barely pronounced. Length occupied by the lower teeth, 57 millimetres. Interorbital diameter of the frontals, 33 millimetres. Length of the nasals on midline, 28 millimetres.

Comments. Ameghino (1891) founded this taxon without illustrating it. According to Ameghino’s catalogue, MACN-A 3970 to MACN-A 3976 are the type specimens of the species and belong to the same individual. Despite this, Mones (1986) indicated “MACN?”, which means doubt or lack of information about the type that could be housed at the MACN. The fragmented specimens MACN-A 3970 and MACN-A 3972 match the original description (Ameghino 1891), because they exhibit a larger size (length of P2–M3 = 36.5 mm; length of p2–m3 = 41.05 mm) than the remaining specimens, p2 is lingually longer, and m1–3 are slightly labially undulated. However, they are not complete enough to show the described features of the cranial roof, and the breakage on this area does not seem to be recent. On the other hand, MACN-A 3977 is an incomplete skull of another individual, whose fronto-nasal suture shows the described wedge-shaped median projection, and the only measurement available to be taken (length of the nasal on midline = 28 mm) also matches the original description. Therefore, MACN-A 3970 to MACN-A 3976 and MACN-A 3977, which correspond to two different individuals, are considered the syntypes of Pa. furculosus.

Chronological and geographical distribution of the type specimen. Santacrucian SALMA, Santa Cruz Province.