Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Background for a paleoecological study of the Santa Cruz Formation (late early Miocene) on the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia / Sergio F. Vizcaíno, Richard F. Kay, and M. Susana Bargo -- Tephrochronology of the Miocene Santa Cruz and Pinturas formations, Argentina / Michael E. Perkins [and others] -- Absolute and relative ages of fossil localities in the Santa Cruz and Pinturas formations / John G. Fleagle [and others] -- Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the Santa Cruz Formation / Sergio D. Matheos and M. Sol Raigemborn -- Oysters from the base of the Santa Cruz Formation (late early Miocene) of Patagonia / Miguel Griffin and Ana Parras -- Ichnology of distal overbank deposits of the Santa Cruz Formation (late early Miocene) : paleohydrologic and paleoclimatic significance / Verónica Krapovickas -- Fossil plant studies from late early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Formation : paleoecology and paleoclimatology at the passive margin of Patagonia, Argentina / Mariana Brea, Alejandro F. Zucol, and Ari Iglesias -- Amphibians and squamate reptiles from the Santa Cruz Formation (late early Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Argentina : paleoenvironmental and paleobiological considerations / Juan C. Fernicola and Adriana Albino -- Diversity and paleobiology of the Santacrucian birds / Federico J. Degrange, Jorge I. Noriega, and Juan I. Areta -- Paleoecology of the Paucituberculata and Microbiotheria (Mammalia, Marsupialia) from the late early Miocene of Patagonia / María Alejandra Abello, Edgardo Ortiz-Jaureguizar, and Adriana M. Candela -- Paleoecology of the mammalian carnivores (Metatheria, Sparassodonta) of the Santa Cruz Formation (late early Miocene) / Francisco J. Prevosti [and others] -- Paleobiology of Santacrucian glyptodonts and armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata) / Sergio F. Vizcaíno, Juan C. Fernicola, and M. Susana Bargo -- Paleobiology of the Santacrucian sloths and anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa) / M. Susana Bargo, Néstor Toledo, and Sergio F. Vizcaíno -- Paleobiology of Santacrucian native ungulates (Meridiungulata: Astrapotheria, Litopterna and Notoungulata) / Guillermo H. Cassini [and others] -- Paleobiology of Santacrucian caviomorph rodents : a morphofunctional approach / Adriana M. Candela, Luciano L. Rasia, and María E. Pérez -- Paleobiology of Santacrucian primates / Richard F. Kay [and others] -- A review of the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the Miocene Santa Cruz Formation / Richard F. Kay, Sergio F. Vizcaíno, and M. Susana Bargo.

Coastal exposures of the Santa Cruz Formation in southern Patagonia have been a fertile ground for recovery of Early Miocene vertebrates for more than 100 years. This volume presents a comprehensive compilation of important mammalian groups which continue to thrive today. It includes the most recent fossil finds as well as important new interpretations based on 10 years of fieldwork by the authors. A key focus is placed on the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment during the time of deposition in the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) between 20 and 15 million years ago. The authors present the first reconstruction of what climatic conditions were like and present important new evidence of the geochronological age, habits and community structures of fossil bird and mammal species. Academic researchers and graduate students in paleontology, paleobiology, paleoecology, stratigraphy, climatology and geochronology will find this a valuable source of information about this fascinating geological formation.