Fossil of prehistoric deer unearthed in Argentina

Buenos Aires: The well-preserved fossil of a prehistoric deer has been discovered just to the north of Buenos Aires, the La Matanza University revealed.

The fossil – which has not yet been given a definitive age – included almost 70% of the animal’s body, including its spine, extremities and teeth.

The discovery came from a site where 24 fossils of mammals and reptiles have been found in the last 17 years.

“It’s amazing to see how its spine and neck remained in the ‘life position’,” said Jose Luis Aguilar, the director of the Paleontological Museum of San Pedro in the north of Buenos Aires province, on Monday.

As well as an almost complete set of teeth and its spine, the skeleton included more than 20 ribs, the pelvic bone, a rear leg and part of a femur.

This species of deer, from the Morenelaphus genus of which only fragmentary remains had been found until now, could reach up to 200kg.

“This little animal has come to give us details about a moment in

our prehistory when the environment they lived in was quite different to now,” said Aguilar, who made the discovery.

Tests are due to be carried out to determine the fossil’s age.

The Morenelaphus originates from the Pleistocene era, which lasted from 2.5 million years ago until around 12,000 years ago. —