Analysis of dental and osteological elements of Toxodontidae (Mammalia: Notoungulata) from Late Pleistocene–Holocene deposits of the Ribeira of Iguape Valley, Southeastern Brazil

The Ribeira of Iguape Valley, located in the south of São Paulo State, presents an important cave system where several preserved Quaternary faunal remains have been found, especially in the Abismo Ponta de Flecha, Abismo do Fóssil and Abismo do Juvenal caves. Although the records of toxodontids are common in the region, almost no multidisciplinary research has been done in these materials, including the potential interaction with prehistoric humans. Therefore, the objective of this work was to analyze teeth of toxodontids found in the Ribeira Valley, to understand paleontological aspects of these animals and investigate the presence of cut marks as a proxy for potential interactions with human groups. Taxonomic analysis and measurements showed that all teeth could be assigned to the species Toxodon platensis, deciduous teeth to the cf. T. platensis, and one lower molar that was suggestively associated with Mixotoxodon larensis. The analysis of paleopathologies identified the presence of dental enamel hypoplasia in all specimens found at Abismo Ponta de Flecha Cave, suggesting that this individual suffered from stress events during the period of tooth formation. Cut marks were identified in only two specimens of T. platensis, but the unusual location of these incisions and the identified weathering marks made it difficult to understand the aiming of these marks. Keywords: enamel hypoplasia, human marks, Mixotoxodon, Toxodon.