Macrauchenia

''Macrauchenia'' ("long llama", based on the now-invalid llama genus, ''Auchenia'', from Greek "big neck") was a large, long-necked and long-limbed, three-toed native South American mammal in the order Litopterna. The genus gives its name to its family, the Macraucheniidae or "robust litopterns". Like other litopterns, it is most closely related to the odd-toed ungulates ( Perissodactyla), from which litopterns diverged approximately 66 million years ago. The oldest fossils in the genus date to the late Miocene, around seven million years ago, and ''M. patachonica'' disappears from the fossil record during the late Pleistocene, around 20,000-10,000 years ago. ''M. patachonica'' is one of the last and best known member of the family and is known primarily from the Luján Formation in Argentina, but is known from localities across southern South America. Another genus of macraucheniid ''Xenorhinotherium during the voyage of the ''Beagle''. In life, ''Macrauchenia'' may have resembled a humpless camel, though the two taxa are not closely related. It fed on plants in a variety of environments across what is now South America. Among the species described, ''M. patachonica'' and ''M. ullomensis'' are considered valid; ''M. boliviensis'' is considered a nomen dubium; and ''M. antiqua'' (or ''M. antiquus'') has been moved to the genus '' Promacrauchenia''.

Taxonomy

''Macrauchenia'' fossils were first collected on 9 February 1834 at Port St Julian in Patagonia (Argentina) by Charles Darwin, when HMS ''Beagle'' was surveying the port. As a non-expert he tentatively identified the leg bones and fragments of spine he found as "some large animal, I fancy a Mastodon". In 1837, soon after the ''Beagle's'' return, the anatomist Richard Owen identified the bones, including vertebrae from the back and neck, as from a gigantic creature resembling a llama or camel, which Owen named ''Macrauchenia patachonica''. In naming it, Owen noted the original Greek terms (, large or long), and (, neck) as used by Illiger as the basis of ''Auchenia'' as a generic name for the llama, ''Vicugna'' and so on. The find was one of the discoveries leading to the inception of Darwin's theory. Since then, more ''Macrauchenia'' fossils have been found, mainly in Patagonia, but also in Bolivia, Chile and Venezuela.

The related genus ''Cramauchenia'' was named by Florentino Ameghino as a deliberate anagram of ''Macrauchenia''.

Evolution

It is likely that ''Macrauchenia'' evolved from earlier litopterns ''Theosodon'', ''Cramauchenia'' or '' Promacrauchenia'', or a similar species. Litopterna was one of the five (four in some classifications) ancient orders of endemic South American mammals collectively called meridiungulates. Their relationships with other mammal groups outside South America have been poorly understood, as their early evolutionary history would have been in Western Gondwana, and outside of South America this area is now Antarctica. When South America separated from Antarctica in the Eocene, meridungulate orders survived in South America in isolation. Most flourished in the Paleogene and then diminished. Formerly, North American paleontologists considered them inferior to Northern Hemisphere taxa and to have been outcompeted to extinction in the Great American Biotic Interchange after the establishment of the Central American land bridge. However, more recent evidence shows that three of the meridungulate orders declined long before, just as happened to early mammal groups elsewhere. Litopterns and notoungulates continued, evolving into a variety of more derived forms. While toxodontid notoungulates expanded into North America during the GABI, litopterns remained confined to South America. ''Macrauchenia'' was among the last surviving meridungulates, along with litopterns such as ''Macraucheniopsis'', ''Neolicaphrium'', and ''Xenorhinotherium'', '' Trigodonops'', ''Toxodon, ''and ''Mixotoxodon.'' These last endemic South American hoofed animals died out at the end of the Lujanian (10,000-20,000 years ago).'

Sequencing of mitochondrial DNA extracted from an ''M. patachonica'' fossil from a cave in southern Chile indicates that ''Macrauchenia'' (and by inference, Litopterna) is the sister group to Perissodactyla, with an estimated divergence date of sixty-six million years ago. Analysis of collagen sequences obtained from ''Macrauchenia'' and ''Toxodon'' reached a similar conclusion and extended membership in the sister group clade to notoungulates.

Description

''Macrauchenia'' had a somewhat camel-like body, with sturdy legs, a long neck and a relatively small head. Its feet, however, more closely resembled those of a modern rhinoceros, with one central toe and two side toes on each foot. It was a large animal, with a body length of around and a weight up to , about the size of a black rhinoceros.

One striking characteristic of ''Macrauchenia'' is the openings for the nostrils on top of the head, above and between the eyes. Increasingly retracted nostrils are an evolutionary trend in later litopterns. Because mammals with trunks show the nostrils in a similar position, a popular hypothesis is that ''Macrauchenia'' had a trunk similar to a tapir or an inflated snout like that of the saiga antelope, perhaps to keep dust out of the nostrils. However, a 2018 study comparing the skulls of tapirs and various other herbivorous extant and extinct mammal species instead saw similarities with the skulls of moose, suggesting that ''Macrauchenia'' and other macraucheniids, such as ''Huayqueriana'' did not possess trunks. However, pictographs depicting various extinct megafauna dated to around 12,600 to 11,800 years ago from the Serranía de La Lindosa rock formation of Guaviare, Colombia showed what appears to be a possible trunked macraucheniid, presumably ''Xenorhinotheriums, high browsers on thorny vegetation, have more retracted nostrils than related taxa with other feeding habits.

One insight into ''Macrauchenias habits is that its ankle joints and shin bones may indicate that it was adapted to have unusually good mobility, being able to rapidly change direction when it ran at high speed.

''Macrauchenia'' is known, like its relative ''Theosodon'', to have had a full set of 44 teeth.

Paleobiology

''Macrauchenia'' was a herbivore, likely living on leaves from trees or grasses. Carbon isotope analysis of ''M. patachonicas tooth enamel, as well as analysis of its hypsodonty index (low in this case; i.e., it was brachydont), body size and relative muzzle width suggests that it was a mixed feeder, combining browsing on C3 foliage with grazing on C4 grasses. A dental microwear, occusal enamel, and carbon isotope analysis of ''Macrauchenia'' and ''Xenorhinotherium'' found that both were grazers on C3 grasses.

The genus was widespread, found in environments that ranged from dry to humid, from southern Chile to northeastern Brazil and the coast of Venezuela. Fossils of M. ullomensis have been found in Bolivia at altitudes up to 4000 meters. Habits and diet may have varied depending on the environment, but in plant feeders an elongated neck is usually an adaptation to allow high browsing on trees and shrubs. As the genus was not confined to forest, it was probably able to exploit more marginal environments by mixing high browsing with low browsing and grazing. A site in northern Chile preserved the remains of five subadults associated together, which suggests ''Macrauchenia'' may have lived in large herds or family groups.

When ''Macrauchenia'' first arose, it could have been preyed upon by the largest of native South American mammal predators, the sabertoothed sparassodont ''Thylacosmilus''. The largest phorusrhacid birds may also have been able to prey on juveniles. After the GABI, the primary predator on adults would have been the very large sabertoothed cat ''Smilodon populator'' and giant short-faced bears. Dire wolves and jaguars may also have hunted ''Macrauchenia'', particularly juveniles.

It is presumed that ''Macrauchenia'' dealt with its predators primarily by outrunning them, or, failing that, kicking them with its long, powerful legs. The large size of adults would have limited their vulnerability to most predators. Its potential ability to twist and turn at high speed could have enabled it to evade pursuers; both ''Thylacosmilus'' and ''S. populator'' were ambush hunters likely unable to run down prey over distance if the prey evaded the first attack.

Distribution

Fossils of ''Macrauchenia'' have been found in:''Macrauchenia''
at Fossilworks.org

;Miocene
* Epecuén Formation, Argentina

;Pliocene
* Argentina

;Pleistocene

* Arroyo Seco and Luján Formations, Argentina
* Ulloma, Charana, Umala, Tarija and Ñuapua Formations, Bolivia
* Touro Passo Formation, Brazil
* Cueva del Milodón, Chile
* Paraguay
* San Sebastián Formation, Peru
* Sopas and Dolores Formations, Uruguay
* Taima-Taima, Venezuela

References

Further reading

* Barry Cox, Colin Harrison, R.J.G. Savage, and Brian Gardiner. (1999): The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures: A Visual Who's Who of Prehistoric Life. Simon & Schuster.
* Jayne Parsons. (2001): Dinosaur Encyclopedia. DK.
*

External links

Megafauna page

{{Taxonbar, from=Q139086
Macraucheniids
Messinian first appearances
Holocene extinctions
Miocene mammals of South America
Pliocene mammals of South America
Pleistocene mammals of South America
Lujanian
Ensenadan
Uquian
Chapadmalalan
Montehermosan
Huayquerian
Neogene Argentina
Cerro Azul Formation
Pleistocene Argentina
Pleistocene Bolivia
Pleistocene Brazil
Pleistocene Chile
Pleistocene Paraguay
Pleistocene Peru
Pleistocene Uruguay
Pleistocene Venezuela
Fossils of Argentina
Fossils of Bolivia
Fossils of Brazil
Fossils of Chile
Fossils of Paraguay
Fossils of Peru
Fossils of Uruguay
Fossils of Venezuela
Fossil taxa described in 1838
Taxa named by Richard Owen
Prehistoric placental genera