We analyzed more than 40 different fossil wood taxa from the Ituzaingó Formation. Palaeoclimatic data was determined based on physiognomic anatomical features using multivariate anatomical analyses. These results were compared with other proxies, including Carlquist's index and Nearest Living Relatives (NLRs). The anatomical features of the fossil wood analyzed show a tendency to xerophytic and seasonal vegetation. The comparison with the living relative suggests that the Ituzaingó Formation flora has elements linked with Chaco, riparian, and components of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest (SDTF)

1. Miocene? paleoenvironments of Ituzaingó Formation (northeast Argentina) from
fossil wood proxies
M.J. Franco1, M. Brea1, 2, C. Martínez Martínez1, L. Protti Consenza1 and D. E. Prado3
1Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción, CICYTTP (CONICET-Prov. ER-UADER), España149, E3105BWA, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina y Facultad de
Ciencia y Tecnología, UADER, Sede Diamante, Tratado del Pilar 314, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina. jimenafr@gmail.com. cidmbrea@gmail.com. camimartinez1@Hotmail.com.
Lucho.protti@Hotmail.com.
2Cátedra de Paleobotánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, UNLP, Calle 122 y 60 s/n, 1900, La Plata, Argentina.
3Cátedra de Botánica, IICAR-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, UNR. Zavalla, Santa Fe, Argentina. Email: dprado@unr.edu.ar

2. Introduction
Fossil wood from Ituzaingó FormationItuzaingó Formation at Toma Vieja
fossiliferous locality, Entre Ríos, Argentina

3. We analyzed more than 40 different fossil wood taxa from
the Ituzaingó Formation and recognized gymnosperm,
palms and 10 angiosperm families.
The materials came from ten fossiliferous localities in
Entre Ríos Province, Argentina.
Palaeoclimatic data was determined based on
physiognomic anatomical features using multivariate
anatomical analyses.
These results were compared with other proxies, including
Carlquist's index and Nearest Living Relatives (NLRs).
Materials & methods
Ituzaingó Formation fossiliferous localities
1 Toma Vieja 6 Hernandarias
2 Villa Urquiza 7 Arroyo Feliciano
3 La Celina 8 Puente Carmona
4 Curtiembre 9 El Espinillo
5 Pueblo Brugo 10 Planta PotabilizadoraItuzaingó Formation fossil
wood.
Cross section of Anadenantheroxylon
villaurquicense.

4. All the fossiliferous
localities
Toma Vieja Curtiembre
(2) MART 4,19 4,18 4,21
(3) CMMT 9,93 9,81 9,84
(4) MAP 1886,13 627,14 432,88
(5) DRY 6,79 6,80 6,81
(12) MAT 17,92 13,86 19,97
(15) MAT 16,14 18,45 15,78
Results
Distribution of the Nearest Living Relative (NLR)
Paleophytogeographical inferences
“Chaco” Atlantic forest o riparian
Seasonally Dry Tropical
Forests (SDTF)
Fossiliferous localities and families
The comparison with the living relative suggests that the
Ituzaingó Formation flora has elements linked with Chaco,
riparian, and components of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest
(SDTF).
Quantitative estimation of temperature and precipitation
indicates Tropical-Subtropical Climate, with annual
precipitation probably around 1300 mm and a marked
and long dry season.

5. Discussions & Conclusions
 The anatomical features of the fossil wood analyzed show a tendency to xerophytic and seasonal vegetation
because of the character indicators.
 The Vulnerability Index (V) and Mesomorphy (M) indicate a dry climate with some species adapted to wet
environments.
 Quantitative estimation of temperature and precipitation
could indicate a Tropical Seasonal Forest.
 Ituzaingó paleoflora is characterized by the presence of
an SDTF component and supporting the idea that
SDTFs were more widespread in the past.
Ruprechtia
spp.
Anadenanthera
colubrina
Distribution of SDTFs
highlighting areas of endemism
(modified from Pennington et
al., 2000). The arrows indicate
the distribution area of the
fossil localities and the black
dots the current distribution of
the genus Ruprechtia and the
legume species Anadenanthera
colubrina