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The pudu (Pudu puda), belongs to the Artiodactyla order and the Cervidae family, corresponding to the second smallest deer in the world and is endemic to Chile and Argentina. They are herbivores that feed on young leaves and shoots of certain trees, shrubs, herbs, fruits, and flowers. The status of is species is classified as Vulnerable; therefore, its hunting and capture is prohibited, this because its population has decreased substantially due to the loss and fragmentation of native vegetation, forest fires, attacks by feral dogs and poaching. There is little scientific anatomical information available on this species, and even more so regarding its digestive morphology, which is why studies are required to provide specific information on this deer. Two adult female pudu specimens were used, which were donated by the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of Talca, Maule Region, Chile. Among the results, we can indicate that the oral cavity, salivary glands and esophagus resemble other domestic ruminants; there are also similarities with the field deer, however, there are differences such as the shape and development of the parotid gland; the parotid duct passes ventral to the masseter muscle and opens into a papilla at the level of the upper third premolar; the mandibular gland is divided into three wolves; the sublingual gland only has a polystomatic portion, the dorsal buccal glands are smaller than the ventral buccal glands, the ventral buccal gland is elongated and compact and the presence of a rounded intermediate buccal gland is observed, it has 11 palatal ridges per side in the hard palate and also the incisive papilla is found surrounding the dental pulvino. This information is relevant and corresponds to a report on the specific knowledge of this species, which is endemic, vulnerable, and protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We re-evaluate the tribal allocation of Olympicomys vossi, an extinct member of Sigmodontinae (Rodentia, Cricetidae). Originally described from fragmentary jaws, this taxon was considered as a Phyllotini. In light of new remains, including hemimandibles and for the first time an anterior part of the cranium with the upper dentition, we propose that it belongs to the Reithrodontini. The studied materials were collected in coastal outcrops of the Vorohué Formation (late Pliocene-early Pleistocene) south of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Central Argentina. The reallocation of Olympicomys into Reithrodontini is based on the presence in this genus of several diagnostic characters of this tribe including a deeply excised anterior border of the zygomatic plate, a well-developed zygomatic spine, a shallow area of insertion of the anterior deep masseter muscle, a posteriorly depressed palate, labial accessory roots on upper and lower first molars, three-rooted lower third molar, and a bifid metaflexus on the second upper molar. Chukimys favaloroi and Dankomys vorohuensis, two other Pliocene Argentinean sigmodontines, are suggested as extinct reithrodontines. The restudy of Olympicomys provides elements to discuss the pattern of radiation of Sigmodontinae and to improve the chronostratigraphy of the coastal Neogene sedimentary succession of the Buenos Aires province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hydrochoerine rodent, Cardiatherium calingastaense sp. nov. (Caviidae), is described based on the specimen INGEO-PV 87. It was recovered from the late Miocene Las Flores Formation, cropping out at the Puchuzum locality, San Juan Province, Argentina. The new species is based on a particular combination of characters, among which the following can be highlighted: p4 with internal fissures equally deep as in Cardiatherium paranense, secondary external fissure as in Cardiatherium patagonicum, and lacking the fifth internal fissure and supernumerary internal fissure, as in C. paranense; m3 with a conspicuous labial column in the posterior ramus of the second prism; very deep primary and secondary external fissures in upper cheek teeth, the former producing a labial strong step-shaped profile in M2; sagittal crest on the parietals; bullae small in ventral view; scars of the origin of the masseter medialis muscle with an anterior projection up to the level of the incisive foramen and the maxilla-premaxilla suture. The phylogenetic analysis supports the taxonomic proposal of creating a new species of Cardiatherium and shows C. calingastaense sp. nov. as the sister group of the other species of the genus. The lineage leading to the clade Cardiatherium + largest capybaras would have originated at least during the Chasicoan SALMA (early late Miocene). Cardiatherium calingastaense sp. nov. adds to the previous record of Cardiatherium chasicoense and Cardiatherium paranense in the late Miocene of San Juan and Mendoza provinces, respectively, thus increasing the diversity of capybaras in central-west Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]