Caviomorpha

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Caviomorpha
Temporal range: Oligocene–Recent
Capybara
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Infraorder: Hystricognathi
Parvorder: Caviomorpha
Wood, 1955
Families

see text

Synonyms

Neocaviomorpha

Caviomorpha is the

coypu and octodonts
(Vassallo and Antenucci, 2015).

Origin

Neoreomys

The first known rodent

fossils in South America are represented by the three taxa Cachiyacuy contamanensis, C. kummeli, and Canaanimys maquiensis, as well as teeth from Eobranisamys sp. (Dasyproctidae) and Eospina sp., the latter two found also in the Santa Rosa fauna from the late Eocene or early Oligocene. By the late Oligocene, all superfamilies and most families of caviomorphs are present in the fossil record.[citation needed
]

During this time, South America was isolated from all other continents. Several hypotheses have been proposed as to how hystricognath rodents colonized this island continent. Most require that a small group of these rodents traveled across ocean bodies atop a raft of mangroves or driftwood.

The most common hypothesis suggests that the ancestor to all modern caviomorphs

Hystricidae). New World monkeys appear to have colonized South America from Africa at a similar time.[1]

Caviomorphs went on to colonize the

Bahamas, reaching the Greater Antilles by the early Oligocene.[2] This is commonly viewed as another example of oceanic dispersal,[3][4] although a role for a possible land bridge has also been considered.[2]

Diversity

Caviomorph rodents underwent an explosive diversification upon arrival into South America. They managed to outcompete other animals in rodent-like

chinchillas and chinchilla rats), forest edges (prehensile-tailed porcupines) and dense tropical forests (pacas and acouchis
).

Although many species of caviomorphs have migrated into Central America since the Great American Interchange, only a single living species, the North American porcupine, has naturally colonized North America north of Mexico (the extinct capybara Neochoerus pinckneyi also accomplished this feat). The nutria has been introduced into North America and has proven a highly successful invasive species there.

Families

Note that some changes to this taxonomy have been suggested by

molecular
studies. The Dinomyidae is now thought to belong to the Chinchilloidea rather than the Cavioidea, the Abrocomidae may belong to the Octodontoidea, and the Hydrochaeridae may have evolved from within the Caviidae.

References

Citations

  1. ISBN 978-0-387-78704-6
    , retrieved 2022-07-11
  2. ^
    S2CID 140178414
    .
  3. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.27.1.163
    .
  4. S2CID 198149958
    .
  5. PMID 25115033
    .

Sources

See also

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