PROCYONIDAE (CARNIVORA) IN A CAVE IN THE PARQUE NACIONAL DE UBAJARA, NORTHEAST OF BRAZIL (EOHOLOCENE)

Abstract

The most recent procyonids of Brazil came from North America at the end of the Pleistocene. This work presents and describes the first carnivore record (Procyonidae Gray, 1825) found in a cave deposit and collected from dated sediments in northeastern Brazil. The collection was made during an excavation mission at the Gruta do Urso Fóssil, Parque Nacional de Ubajara, State of Ceará. The studied material was found at a depth of 0.8 m. Using the Thermoluminescence and Optically Stimulated Luminescence methods, the material was dated to ± 8,450 years BP. The animal is represented by a maxilla fragment with a complete right M2 and can be attributed to Procyon cancrivorus (Cuvier, 1798). The presence of this species in this area suggests that the environmental dynamics of the region has been harmonious and conserved for, at least, the last 8,000 years.