Abstract

ACUNA-MESEN, Rafael  and  GARCIA-DIAZ, Elmer. Nuevo ejemplar de Cuvieronius hyodon (Proboscidea: Gomphotheriidae) del Pleistoceno de Costa Rica. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 1998, vol.46, n.4, pp.1167-1172. ISSN 0034-7744.

A lower mastodont molar was found in Nacaome river, Nicoya, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. It is a Pleistocene specimen of Cuvieronius hyodon. C. hyodon and Haplomastodon waringi, mountain and savanna mastodonts respectively, have been found in the same place. This evidence and the dental morphology suggest that they were seasonaly simpatric species with different alimentary niches. Probably H. haringi fed on savanna or prairie plants (very ligneous with high silica concentration, e.g. Cyperaceae ) whereas C. hyodon consumed softer plants (the enamel is less damaged).

Keywords : Cuvieronius hyodon; Haplomastodon waringi; Gomphotheridae; Proboscidea; dental morphology; Pleistocene; Nacaome; Costa Rica.