Originis and evolution of the Cenozoic amphibians and reptiles of South America

Abstract

Originis and evolution of the Cenozoic amphibians and reptiles of South America?. The earliest Cenozoic record of amphibians and reptiles in South America consists of remains of turtles and crocodiles from the Lower Paleocene. But they do not, however, constitute a representative sample of the herpetofauna then inhabiting that continent, for the deposits of that age that have hitherto yielded fossils correspond to a peculiar facies. Fortunately a rich and diversified assemblage of Late Paleocene age gives a more complete picture of the groups living at that time. Within this assemblage it is possible to recognize elements of different historical background that joined the South American fauna heterochronously.