All articles tagged with #south america
In the Middle Miocene Pebas megawetland of northwestern South America, enormous crocodylians such as Purussaurus neivensis dominated the ecosystem, preying on abundant megafauna like giant sloths and rhinoceros relatives. Fossil bite marks indicate ambush predation by these crocs, while scavengers such as sebecids fed on their leftovers, underscoring Purussaurus' key ecological role in shaping tropical wetlands of the era.
In the Middle Miocene Pebas wetlands of northwestern South America, gigantic crocodylians like Purussaurus neivensis—about two tons and as long as a school bus—ruled as apex predators, ambushing prey from waterways and helping shape megafauna dynamics from giant ground sloths to rhinoceros relatives. Fossil bite marks indicate crocodile predation, while other crocodylians—such as sebecids—likely scavenged leftovers, illustrating a brutal, predator-dense ecosystem at the top of the food chain.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia near San José del Palmar, killing at least 111 and causing many buildings to collapse; the tremor was felt in Bogotá and in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela, marking the strongest Colombian quake in a decade as authorities coordinate a large-scale emergency response.
At the Santa Elina rock shelter in Brazil, researchers report three giant sloth osteoderms that were modified into artifacts, probably pendants, in a layer dated to about 25,000–27,000 years ago—potentially signaling earlier human presence in South America. The finding bolsters discussions of early dispersals and challenges Monte Verde II’s dates, but the claim is contested and some experts warn that natural processes can mimic such modifications; ancient DNA studies still point to a complex, multi-route peopling of the Americas with first entry roughly 16,000–23,000 years ago.
France's Pasteur Institute fully sequenced the Andes virus from a passenger on the MV Hondius and found it matches known South American strains, with no evidence of features that would make it more transmissible or dangerous. The virus detected in ship patients was identical to each other and about 97% similar to South American samples, and Pasteur will share the data with the international scientific community to aid monitoring. The cruise outbreak now involves 11 cases, with three deaths, and health officials say exposure likely occurred during the South America visit.
Uruguay has detected Sporothrix brasiliensis, a fungus that causes skin infections, in cats, other pets, and people, signaling cat-to-human transmission and a potential regional spread across South America. The fungus thrives in warm-blooded hosts and spreads through scratches or bites; diagnosis is by microscopy or culture, and treatment is antifungal but lengthy. Public health efforts emphasize fast diagnosis, treating both humans and pets, and controlling stray cats to prevent wider outbreaks, amid reports of thousands of human cases across the region over the past decade.
Fossils from Venezuela show ancient anacondas were about 4–5 meters long soon after appearing ~12.4 million years ago, and their size stayed largely unchanged through the Miocene, unlike other giants that disappeared; researchers used vertebrae measurements and ancestral state reconstruction to confirm the finding.
Researchers identify Josephoartigasia monesi as the largest rodent known, living about 4–2 million years ago in South America. Weighing around 480 kilograms, it likely reached roughly 3 meters in length and could bite with about 4,165 Newtons on its molars, indicating a herbivorous, root-digging lifestyle rather than predation. Its anatomy suggests a slow-moving mammal adapted to large-herbivore–like niches, and earlier mass estimates have been revised downward from extreme figures to ~480 kg.
Scientists have mapped hundreds of massive tunnels up to about 6 feet wide and as long as 600 yards across southern Brazil and northern Argentina, arguing they were carved by giant Ice Age sloths rather than humans or natural geological forces. The walls show claw marks and signs of reuse, suggesting these tunnels were maintained over time and serve as trace fossils revealing ancient habitats and megafauna behavior like Megatherium rather than predator activity.
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins the men's giant slalom, ending South America's 102-year Olympic medal drought at Milan-Cortina, while Jordan Stolz dominates speedskating with another gold for the United States and other American athletes claim medals across events.
Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the men's giant slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, earning South America's first medal at the Winter Games.
Researchers studying kilometre‑long tunnels across Brazil and Argentina argue they are palaeoburrows carved by giant ground sloths (such as Glossotherium and Scelidotherium) during the Early Cretaceous in Botucatu sandstone; the largest known burrow runs about 1.5 kilometres with claw‑marked ceilings, suggesting multiple animals over time, though the exact purpose remains debated.
EU member states have broadly approved a historic free trade agreement with Mercosur, the South American trade bloc, pending European Parliament approval, marking the EU's largest trade deal to date.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated its 100th anniversary in South America in 2025 with events including concerts, cultural activities, humanitarian service, and the dedication of two new temples, highlighting its growth from 600,000 members in 1925 to 4.4 million today, and emphasizing faith, service, and community contributions.
Inter Miami, the 2025 MLS Cup champions, announced their preseason matches for 2026, which will include three games in South America against Alianza Lima in Peru, Atlético Nacional in Colombia, and Barcelona de Guayaquil in Ecuador, marking their first match against Ecuadorian opposition.