Dr. Darin Croft studies the evolution of mammals over geologic time using living mammals and the fossil record. His research focuses on the mammals of South America, a continent with a rich fossil record that was geographically isolated for most of the past 66 million years. Thus, it is an excellent place to investigate topics such as adaptation, diversification, and community ecology. Fieldwork is an integral part of Dr. Croft’s research and he leads a long-term field project in Bolivia with active collaborations in Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. Dr. Croft’s research spans alpha taxonomy, systematics, paleobiology, paleoecology, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
Recent Publications
- Armella, M. A. & D.A. Croft. 2026. Pass on the grass? The unexpected “last supper” of hypselodont Pachyrukhinae (Notoungulata, Mammalia) from the late Neogene of northwestern Argentina. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 687:113585.
- Lorente, M., G.I. Schmidt, & D.A. Croft. 2025. Convergence, divergence, and novelty in the ungulate-like hindlimbs of South American litopterns. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 32(2):18.
- Nelson, A., R.K. Engelman & D.A. Croft. 2023. How to weigh a fossil mammal? South American notoungulates as a case study for estimating body mass in other extinct clades. Journal of Mammal Evolution 30(3):773-809.
- Strömberg, C.A., B.Z. Saylor, R.K. Engelman, A.M. Catena, D.I. Hembree, F. Anaya & D.A. Croft. 2024. The flora, fauna, and paleoenvironment of the late Middle Miocene Quebrada Honda, Bolivia (Eastern Cordillera, Central Andes). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 656:112518
- Van Orman, J., O. Wilson, A. Catena, S. Maganti, F. Anaya & D.A. Croft. 2025. New remains and paleoecology of uruguaytheriine astrapotheres (Mammalia) from the Middle Miocene of Bolivia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 70(3): 581–605.