Evolution and Ecology of Neotropical Mammals
Evolution
Paleontology
La Venta: Middle Miocene in Colombia
The region geologically known as La Venta, located mainly in the department of Huila, presents the most important vertebrate fossil record of Miocene in Colombia. The main paleofuana registered is composed of large reptiles and mammals as Purussaurus, as astrapotheres, sloths, primates, rodents, bats and armadillos, among others. The main objective of our research is to establish the paleoenvironments present in this geological epoch through the characterization of fauna and flora.
Systematics of modern mammals
DIn Colombia more than 492 species of mammals recorded make from us one of the countries with the most diversity, especially in the bats (198) and rodents (122); we have seen many of the new species found in recent years by molecular markers or exhaustive reviews of the Biological Collections studies. Therefore, one of our main goals is clarifying the systematics of specific biological groups as small mammals and primates; with this type of tools to clarify the evolutionary diversification of generic groups and cryptic species.