干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

This paper describes the Hippidion bones recovered from the Atacama Desert (Calama, Second Region of Chile). The analyzed assemblage corresponds to a nearly complete skeleton from Betecsa 1 site and more poorly preserved remains from Kamac Mayu site. In both H. saldiasi is identified. Two C-14 radiometric determinations indicate late Pleistocene age for these remains (21,070 +/- 100 BP and 21,380 +/- 100 BP). Environmental and diet inferences from stable isotope analysis are also presented. The delta C-13 value from Betecsa 1 horses (-15.45 from bone sample and -16.68 from enamel sample) suggest a dietary adaptation exclusively C-3 feeders. This is the first skull and associated skeleton recovered of this species.