Sistemática filogenética e paleobiologia do gênero Cartelles (Primates: Platyrrhini: Atelidae) do Quaternário do Brasil

Abstract

The Atelidae family has 29 living species that rank among the largest primates in the New World in terms of body size. The living members of this family are grouped into two groups: Alouattinae and Atelinae. Alouattinae has a single living representative (Alouatta). This genus has the greatest number of species (16) and the widest geographic distribution from Mexico to Argentina. Atelinae, on the other hand, has three living genera (Lagothrix with 4 species, Ateles with 7 species, and Brachyteles with two species and restricted occurrence to Brazil). The discovery of fossils from the Atelidae family has added crucial details to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of New World primates, making this lineage one of the most well-represented in Quaternary. However, the similarity between some fossil species and living organisms is still up for debate, and various theories have currently been put forth to explain the relationships between atelideos and their evolutionary ancestors. In the present thesis, a new fossil of a giant Atelid composed of a skull, mandibular left, right humerus, and other material postcranial is described. The study of this new material provides an excellent opportunity to test hypotheses regarding the relationships between extant and current members of the Atelidae family, filling in the gaps in our knowledge regarding the evolutionary history of these prehistoric animals. The results provide an answer to the question of whether evolutionary relationships can be reinterpreted in light of the description of a new species as well as the evaluation of new morphological traits found in the fossil Cartelles coimbrafilhoi. In addition to this, information about the new species' paleobiology and paleoecology helps to outline novel hypotheses about the biogeographic and ecological history of these primates during the Pleistocene.