An early Eocene sirenian from Patagonia (Mammalia, Sirenia). American Museum novitates ; no. 2729

Abstract

"Two mammalian maxillary fragments from the Lower Eocene of Argentina were described as Florentinoameghinia mystica (Simpson, 1932) and were designated as Mammalia, incertae sedis (Simpson, 1945). These specimens are here restudied and reassigned to the order Sirenia. They are shown to have many similarities with the dentition of Protosiren fraasi Abel (1904), a sirenian from the Middle Eocene of Egypt. These fragmentary remains represent the earliest dental record of fossil sirenians and extend the trans-Atlantic distribution of sirenians back to the Lower Eocene"--P. [1].