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Earliest evidence of mammalian social behaviour in the basal Tertiary of Bolivia

Author

Listed:
  • Sandrine Ladevèze

    (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 29 rue Vautier)

  • Christian de Muizon

    (MNHN, UPMC), 8 rue Buffon, F-75005 Paris, France)

  • Robin M. D. Beck

    (American Museum of Natural History)

  • Damien Germain

    (MNHN, UPMC), 8 rue Buffon, F-75005 Paris, France)

  • Ricardo Cespedes-Paz

    (Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d'Orbigny, Av. Potosi N-1458)

Abstract

A social history for opossums Didelphid marsupials — opossums — are solitary creatures, a trait often considered primitive for marsupials. This view could change with the discovery of a mass-death fossil group of Pucadelphys andinus, a primitive mouse-sized relative of marsupials from the early Palaeocene (around 64 million years ago) of Bolivia. The remains of 35 individuals are jumbled together in a small area, apparently buried in a single event. This find is so remarkable that we now have more specimens of this ancient mammal than we do of some marsupials living today.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandrine Ladevèze & Christian de Muizon & Robin M. D. Beck & Damien Germain & Ricardo Cespedes-Paz, 2011. "Earliest evidence of mammalian social behaviour in the basal Tertiary of Bolivia," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7349), pages 83-86, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:474:y:2011:i:7349:d:10.1038_nature09987
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09987
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