Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 76 (3): 383-389, 2003
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Holocene distribution of Octodontid rodents in central Chile
We describe the Holocene distribution of the Octodontids Aconaemys
fuscus, Octodon bridgesi, O. degus, O. lunatus, O. pacificus and
Spalacopus cyanus from Central Chile. We compared ancient and present day ranges. The Holocene pattern
was inferred from zooarchaeological records. Octodon degus, O. lunatus, O. bridgesi, and
Aconaemys fuscus showed a reduction in their geographic range. Although specific mechanisms remain to
be tested, human disturbance seems to be the distal factor that explains the reduction of ranges for some
taxa.
Key words:
Octodontidae,
Holocene, central Chile, zooarchaeology
