Patologías de micromamíferos del Holoceno medio y tardío procedentes de Cueva Tixi (Sierras de Tandilia, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina)
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Universidad de Tarapacá
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Los análisis paleopatológicos de muestras óseas de pequeños mamíferos son poco usuales. Se describen y discuten en este caso diferentes tipos de lesiones identificadas en mamíferos de menos de 0,2 kg recuperados del sitio arqueológico y paleontológico Cueva Tixi (Sierras de Tandilia, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina). La muestra de microvertebrados incluye 72.116 restos esqueletales de diferentes taxones, con un rango cronológico que va desde el Pleistoceno final hasta el Holoceno final: marsupiales didélfidos, roedores, murciélagos, ranas, pájaros, serpientes y peces. Entre los mamíferos, los roedores son los más abundantes (NISP: 66.789), seguidos por los marsupiales didélfidos (NISP: 339). De este universo, solo 17 huesos de roedores fueron afectados por patologías. Se llevó a cabo un diagnóstico diferencial considerando las limitaciones del análisis de huesos aislados. Se identificaron eventos traumáticos, cambios entésicos, enfermedades degenerativas articulares, probables casos de osteomyelitis y otras patologías, lo que permitió inferir un uso altamente demandante del sistema musculoesqueletal. Todas las lesiones identificadas son crónicas, lo que implica que los animales fueron capaces de sobrevivir durante el período de convalecencia y tuvieron un comportamiento que les permitió obtener comida y defenderse de los depredadores, aunque en algunos casos (i.e., fracturas) la disminución de la capacidad de locomoción debió ser importante. Dado que la causa de muerte de todos los especímenes fue la depredación por parte de lechuzas (Tyto alba), estas limitaciones físicas debieron disminuir el potencial de escape de estos roedores. Todos los huesos patologicos corresponden a roedores, presas predilectas de las lechuzas. La recurrencia de lesiones en huesos de R. auritus se relaciona con su preponderancia en el registro fósil de Cueva Tixi. Estos hallazgos patológicos abren nuevas líneas de estudio para este tipo particular de animales, que usualmente no son considerados en los estudios paleopatológicos.
Samples of small mammal bones have not usually been studied from a paleopathological perspective. Different types of osseous lesions of mammals under 0.2 kg recovered from Cueva Tixi archaeological and paleontological site (Tandilia range, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), are described and discussed. The microvertebrate sample includes 72,116 skeletal remains that belong to different taxa, which have a chronological range from the Late Pleistocene to the final Late Holocene: didelphids marsupials, rodents, bats, frogs, birds, snakes and fishes. Among mammals, rodents are the most abundant (NISP: 66,789), followed by didelphids marsupials (NISP: 339). Only 17 bones of rodents were pathologically affected. Differential diagnosis was conducted in each case, considering the limits of isolated bone analysis. Several types of traumatic events, entheseal changes, degenerative joint diseases, probable cases of osteomyelitis and other pathologies, were identified. A highly demanding use of the musculoskeletal system is inferred. All the lesions identified were chronic, which means the animals were able to survive during the period of convalescence. In consequence, their adequate behavior allowed them to obtain food and defend themselves from predators, although in several cases (i.e., fractures) the decrease in locomotor capacity may have been important. As the cause of death of all these specimens was depredation by the barn owl (Tyto alba), this limitation must have produced a lower escape potential. All the pathological bones correspond to rodents because the barn owl consumes mainly these small mammals, while the recurrence of diseases on bones of R. auritus is related to its great preponderance in the fossil record of Cueva Tixi. These pathological findings open new research avenues for this particular kind of animals, usually not considered in paleopathological studies.
Fil: Luna, Leandro Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; Argentina
Fil: Aranda, Claudia Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; Argentina
Fil: Quintana, Carlos Adrian. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Humanidades. Departamento de Historia. Laboratorio de Arqueología Regional Bonaerense; Argentina
VII Reunión de la Asociación de Paleopatología en Sudamérica
Arica
Chile
Paleopathology Association
Samples of small mammal bones have not usually been studied from a paleopathological perspective. Different types of osseous lesions of mammals under 0.2 kg recovered from Cueva Tixi archaeological and paleontological site (Tandilia range, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), are described and discussed. The microvertebrate sample includes 72,116 skeletal remains that belong to different taxa, which have a chronological range from the Late Pleistocene to the final Late Holocene: didelphids marsupials, rodents, bats, frogs, birds, snakes and fishes. Among mammals, rodents are the most abundant (NISP: 66,789), followed by didelphids marsupials (NISP: 339). Only 17 bones of rodents were pathologically affected. Differential diagnosis was conducted in each case, considering the limits of isolated bone analysis. Several types of traumatic events, entheseal changes, degenerative joint diseases, probable cases of osteomyelitis and other pathologies, were identified. A highly demanding use of the musculoskeletal system is inferred. All the lesions identified were chronic, which means the animals were able to survive during the period of convalescence. In consequence, their adequate behavior allowed them to obtain food and defend themselves from predators, although in several cases (i.e., fractures) the decrease in locomotor capacity may have been important. As the cause of death of all these specimens was depredation by the barn owl (Tyto alba), this limitation must have produced a lower escape potential. All the pathological bones correspond to rodents because the barn owl consumes mainly these small mammals, while the recurrence of diseases on bones of R. auritus is related to its great preponderance in the fossil record of Cueva Tixi. These pathological findings open new research avenues for this particular kind of animals, usually not considered in paleopathological studies.
Fil: Luna, Leandro Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; Argentina
Fil: Aranda, Claudia Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; Argentina
Fil: Quintana, Carlos Adrian. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Humanidades. Departamento de Historia. Laboratorio de Arqueología Regional Bonaerense; Argentina
VII Reunión de la Asociación de Paleopatología en Sudamérica
Arica
Chile
Paleopathology Association
Keywords
PALEOPATHOLOGY, MICROMMAMMALS, PLEISTOCENE/HOLOCENE, DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS, https://purl.org/becyt/ford/6.1, https://purl.org/becyt/ford/6