Search

The intrageneric relationships of the pampatheriid genus Scirrotherium and its affinities with supposedly related genera, i.e., Kraglievichia and Holmesina, are revised through new comparative morphological descriptions and parsimony phylogenetic analyses. For this work, unpublished material of pampatheriids (numerous osteoderms, one partial skull and a few postcranial bones) from Neogene formations of Colombia was analyzed. The results show that Scirrotherium is paraphyletic if we include all its referred species, i.e., Scirrotherium hondaensis, S. carinatum and S. antelucanus. The species S. carinatum is closer to Kraglievichia paranensis than to S. hondaensis or S. antelucanus, therefore the new name K. carinatum nov. comb. is proposed. The relationship among S. hondaensis and S. antelucanus could not be resolved, so these species should be designated in aphyly. In spite of failing to recover S. hondaensis and S. antelucanus as one single clade, here is preferred to maintain the generic name Scirrotherium in both species based on diagnostic evidence. New emended diagnoses for Scirrotherium, S. hondaensis and Kraglievichia are provided. The genus Holmesina was found to be monophyletic and positioned as the sister clade of Scirrotherium + Kraglievichia. The evolutionary and biogeographic implications of the taxonomic re-arrangements and the new phylogeny are discussed. A possible geographic origin of the family Pampatheriidae and Scirrotherium in low latitudes of South America as early as Early Miocene times is claimed. The immediate South American sister taxon of Holmesina is predicted to be morphologically more similar to Scirrotherium than to Kraglievichia., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

In this study, the first records of lesions in osteoderms of Holmesina, a group of fossil cingulates related to armadillos, possibly caused by the action of penetrating fleas (Siphonaptera) are described. Three individuals of Holmesina cryptae (Pampatheriidae) were collected from Quaternary sediments in Lapinha Cave (Iramaia, Bahia state, Brazil). Their osteoderms were analyzed by stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy and alterations on their surfaces were recognized. We found 63 marks distributed in 23 of 1300 analyzed osteoderms (approximately 1.8% of the total of osteoderms), characterized by vertical cavities with well-delimited circular borders similar to those lesions made by Tungidae fleas in extant mammals. These records indicate that there was an interaction between penetrating fleas and pampatheres during the Quaternary in Brazilian Intertropical Region, and contribute to the understanding of the evolution of these ectoparasites and the relationship with their hosts.

Osteoderms are dermal ossifications present in several vertebrates and assemble a carapace on armadillos. Here we describe ichnotaxonomically two types of bioerosion traces as well as paleopathologically ulcerative lesions on osteoderms of three specimens of Late Pleistocene Holmesina cryptae armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata, Pampatheriidae) found in Lapinha Cave, Iramaia municipality, Bahia State, Brazil. The traces are always on the external surface of the osteoderms, none on endoskeleton elements, which are also different from bites and taphonomic process marks. This is evidence of the biological and syn vivo origin of the traces, making them remarkable and useful to access animal health. Karethraichnus minimum isp. nov. are individual holes interpreted as produced by sand flea sessile females, probably from the Tunga genus, based on already described lesions in living armadillos. This trace reveals a paleoparasitism behavior useful for tracking this relation deep in time in armoured animals. Violinichnus punctatus igen. et isp. nov. is formed by consecutive tiny holes, forming an overall elliptical/violin-like shape. This is attributed to lesions produced by the action of fungi over osteoderms, similar to mycose-like dermatophytosis (ringworm) in modern mammal skin. In contrast, the ulcerative lesions are recorded as necrosis of bone material, producing a corrosive-like disruption on the external surface of the osteoderms formed by irregular pits and exposition of spongy bone. These are ulcerative lesions probably produced by secondary infections by microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria, or even a destructive immunological response. This would begin as a more restricted lesion with several potential agents for this: abrasion from the soil, plants; lesions from intraspecific fights or predation; dermatitis; ectoparasites (e.g., mites, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes) or initial mycosis or bacterial infection. Since a bioerosive process cannot be demonstrated and is rather unlikely for the ulcerative lesions, these structures are not considered trace fossils. It is reasonable to assume that the flea lesion Karethraichnus minimum isp. nov. and fungal lesion Violinichnus punctatus igen. et isp. nov. could lead to an ulcerative lesion. As syn vivo traces, all these are tools to access the health of the animals to which the osteoderm belongs. Further support on ectoparasite and infection studies on living armoured animals would even allow inferences regarding extinct populations and interpretations of ancient ecosystems.

Pampatheriidae is a group of South American native cingulates recorded from the Middle Miocene to the Early Holocene. These animals arrived in North America during the Great American Biotic Interchange. During the Quaternary, at least three genera existed: Tonnicinctus Góis, González Ruiz, Scillato-Yané and Soibelzon, Pampatherium Gervais and Ameghino, and Holmesina Simpson. They are differentiated mainly by craniodental and osteodermal characters. In this paper, we describe a new species of Holmesina from Bahia state, Brazil. Two well-preserved specimens possessing osteoderms associated with their skeletons enabled us to determine the genus and species more reliably. Holmesina cryptae sp. nov. differs from the other Quaternary pampatheres by having the simplest ornamental pattern of osteoderms, sharing characteristics between Pampatherium and Holmesina osteoderms and the most robust skull among the Holmesina species, however preserving the main synapomorphies of the genus. Moreover, the integrity of the remains of H. cryptae sp. nov. enabled us to describe elements of the hyoid apparatus, the clavicle, the entire vertebral column and the pelvis. It was also possible to measure its total axial length (2.2 m) more reliably, which is smaller than previously estimated for other pampatheres. Holmesina cryptae sp. nov. constitutes the sixth species of the genus, and it is the fourth in South America. Fil: Moura, Jorge Felipe. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasil Fil: Gois Lima, Flavio. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina Fil: Galliari, Fernando Carlos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Fernandes, Marcelo Adorna. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasil

The intrageneric relationships of the pampatheriid genus Scirrotherium and its affinities with supposedly related genera, i.e. Kraglievichia and Holmesina, are revised through parsimony phylogenetic analyses and new comparative morphological descriptions. For this work was analyzed unpublished material of pampatheriids (numerous osteoderms, one partial skull and a few postcranial bones) from Neogene formations of Colombia. The results show that Scirrotherium is paraphyletic if we include all its referred species, i.e. Scirrotherium hondaensis, S. carinatum and S. antelucanus. The species S. carinatum is closer to Kraglievichia paranensis than to S. hondaensis or S. antelucanus, then it is proposed the new name K. carinatum comb. nov. The relationships between S. hondaensis and S. antelucanus could not be resolved, so these species should be designated in aphyly. In spite of failing to recover S. hondaensis and S. antelucanus as one single clade, here is preferred to maintain the generic name Scirrotherium in both species from diagnostic evidence. New emended diagnoses for Scirrotherium, S. hondaensis and Kraglievichia are provided. The genus Holmesina was found monophyletic and located as the sister clade of Scirrotherium + Kraglievichia. The evolutionary and biogeographical implications of the new phylogeny and taxonomical re-arrangements are discussed. It is claimed a possible geographical origin of the family Pampatheriidae and Scirrotherium in low latitudes of South America as early as Early Miocene (Burdigalian) times. The South American ancestor or sister taxon of Holmesina is predicted as morphologically more similar to Scirrotherium than to Kraglievichia., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

The intrageneric relationships of the pampatheriid genus Scirrotherium and its affinities with supposedly related genera, i.e., Kraglievichia and Holmesina, are revised through parsimony phylogenetic analyses and new comparative morphological descriptions. For this work, unpublished material of pampatheriids (numerous osteoderms, one partial skull and a few postcranial bones) from Neogene formations of Colombia was analyzed. The results show that Scirrotherium is paraphyletic if we include all its referred species, i.e., Scirrotherium hondaensis, S. carinatum and S. antelucanus. The species S. carinatum is closer to Kraglievichia paranensis than to S. hondaensis or S. antelucanus, therefore the new name K. carinatum comb. nov. is proposed. The relationship among S. hondaensis and S. antelucanus could not be resolved, so these species should be designated in aphyly. In spite of failing to recover S. hondaensis and S. antelucanus as one single clade, here is preferred to maintain the generic name Scirrotherium in both species based on diagnostic evidence. New emended diagnoses for Scirrotherium, S. hondaensis and Kraglievichia are provided. The genus Holmesina was found to be monophyletic and positioned as the sister clade of Scirrotherium + Kraglievichia. The evolutionary and biogeographic implications of the new phylogeny and taxonomic re-arrangements are discussed. A possible geographic origin of the family Pampatheriidae and Scirrotherium in low latitudes of South America as early as Early Miocene times is claimed. The South American ancestor or sister taxon of Holmesina is predicted to be morphologically more similar to Scirrotherium than to Kraglievichia.

We report a new vertebrate assemblage from the Pliocene Vergel Member of the San Gregorio Formation in northwestern Venezuela, which includes Crocodylia and Testudines indet., toxodonts, at least four species of xenarthrans of the Dasypodidae, Pampatheriidae, Glyptodontidae and Megatheriidae, and rodents. The last are Cardiatherium, cf. Caviodon (Hydrochoeridae), Neoepiblema (Neoepiblemidae), and what is here described as a new genus of a low-crowned octodontoid. cf. Caviodon is the first cardiomyine for northern South America. The rodent assemblage resembles in its ecological composition those of the late Miocene (Huayquerian) from the “Mesopotamian” of Argentina and the Acre region in Brazil, with partially overlapping systematic composition. The stratigraphic position of the San Gregorio Formation and mammals other than caviomorphs suggest a late Pliocene age for these sediments, implying the endurance of rodent taxa beyond their biochron in southern South America.

MIS 3 (60-25 ka) corresponds to a long interstadial episode considered generally warmer than MIS 2 and 4, and including numerous and abrupt Dansgaard-Oeschger and Heinrich events, sometimes brief but very intense. The materials studied here, coming from the Late Pleistocene exposures in central-north Mesopotamia (Corrientes province, Argentina, Toropí/Yupoí Fm., MIS 3; ca. 52-36 ka), is characterized by the presence of a large and complex vertebrate assemblage, being the Cingulata (Xenarthra) one of the most frequently represented taxa. In this work we provide an updated list of cingulates from Corrientes province, referrable to the Late Pleistocene, after performing new collections in the area and revising previous determinations. This includes: a) Dasypodidae: Propraopus sulcatus Lund, Euphractus aff. Euphractus sexcinctus Linnaeus; Chaetophractus villosus (Desmarest); b) Pampatheriidae: Holmesina paulacoutoi (Cartelle-Guerra and Mahecha-Bohorquez), Pampatherium sp., Pampatherium typum Ameghino; c) Glyptodontidae: Panochthus tuberculatus (Owen), Panochthus sp., Glyptodon reticulatus Owen, Glyptodon sp., Neosclerocalyptus paskoensis (Zurita), Neosclerocalyptus cf. N. paskoensis (Zurita), Neosclerocalyptus sp. The paleoenvironmental context that may be inferred from the palaeofaunal, particularly from the diversity of cingulates in the Quaternary of Corrientes province, is characterized by alternating cold arid or semiarid pulses and warmer humid ones. Generating new evidence related to MIS 3. Even though the taxa recorded are not new, the relative occurrence of each one shows evident differences with those in other areas. Using this information, the diversity of cingulates is compared to that of Late Pleistocene faunas described for sediments from areas currently located in the provinces of Formosa and Buenos Aires (Argentina), northern Uruguay and southern Brazil. Lastly, palaeoclimatic and palaeobiogeographic aspects that may be inferred from the study of this assemblage are discussed in the context of the MIS 3. Fil: Francia, Analia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Zurita, Alfredo Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Carlini, Alfredo Armando. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Os pampaterídeos formam um grupo monofilético de cingulados que têm distribuição ampla nas Américas e são relatados desde o Mioceno médio até o Holoceno inicial. A família Pampatheriidae apresenta pouca diversidade fenotípica, sendo representada por sete gêneros, o que reflete uma diversidade baixa se comparada com 65 gêneros dos cingulados gliptodontídeos. A presente Dissertação de Mestrado tem como enfoque principal a apresentação de um artigo científico que objetiva a descrição osteológica e identificação taxonômica de um crânio parcial de um pampaterídeo, assim como uma discussão sobre o material de Pampatheriidae da coleção P.W.Lund. O espécime é proveniente do Arroio Chuí, município de Santa Vitória do Palmar, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, e pertence ao Sistema Lagunar III, Pleistoceno Superior – Holoceno Inferior, do Sistema Laguna-Barreira da Planície Costeira do RS, Bacia de Pelotas. O espécime está depositado no Museu Coronel Tancredo Fernandes de Melo, sob o número MCTFM-PV 0861 e representa o primeiro registro craniano de Pampatherium humboldtii para o estado brasileiro. O estudo traz novas informações sobre as diferenças morfológicas em níveis genérico e específico dos pampaterídeos do Quaternário, além de representar um novo material para o enriquecimento do registro fossilífero da paleomastofauna da região sul do RS, a qual já havia reportado a espécie para o Arroio Chuí através de osteodermos que compõem a carapaça óssea dos pampaterídeos. Como complemento ao artigo científico, é apresentado um levantamente bibliográfico com informações adicionais sobre o atual conhecimento do clado em estudo, além de uma contextualização da geologia e conteúdo fossilífero do Arroio Chuí. The pampatheres form a monophyletic group of cingulates that are widely distributed in the Americas and are reported since the middle Miocene to the early Holocene. The Pampatheriidae family presents little phenotypic diversity and it is represented by seven genera, which reflects a low diversity when compared to 65 genera of the gliptodontids cingulate. This Master's Dissertation has as main purpose the presentation of a scientific article that aims the osteological description and taxonomic identification of a partial pampaterid skull. In addition, it brings a discussion on the pampaterid material of the P. L. Lund Collection. The specimen comes from Chuí Creek, Santa Vitória do Palmar Municipality, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, and belongs to the Lagunar III System, Upper Pleistocene - Lower Holocene, from the Laguna-Barreira System of the Rio Grande do Sul Coastal Plain, Pelotas Basin. The specimen is deposited in the Coronel Tancredo fernandes de Melo Museum, under number MCTFM-PV 0861, and represents the first cranial record of Pampatherium humboldtii for this Brazilian State. The study brings new information about the Quaternary pampaterid morphological differences at generic and specific levels, besides representing a new material, enriching the paleomastofauna fossiliferous record of the southern region of RS. This species had already been reported to Arroio Chuí through osteoderms that form the pampaterids bony carapace. As a complement to the scientific article, a literature review is presented with additional information about the current knowledge of the studied clade, in addition to a contextualization of the geology and fossiliferous content from Arroio Chuí.

A new species of Scirrotherium Edmund & Theodor (Pampatheriidae) is described: S. carinatum. This genus was previously represented by a single species, S. hondaensis Edmund & Theodor, 1997, recorded from the middle Miocene (Laventan) of Colombia. Pampathere remains are common in the ‘Conglomerado osífero’ (late Miocene) of the Ituzaingó Formation in the Paraná River cliffs of Entre Ríos, Chubut (Argentina) and Acre (Brazil). All of them were referred to Kraglievichia paranense, and they are mostly osteoderms. However, only a few of these specimens are strictly consistent with that species. The new species described herein differs from S. hondaensis in having very thin osteoderms with more elaborate ornamentation. The movable band (or imbricate) osteoderms have a sculptured exposed surface and a single transverse row of anterior foramina; the lateral margins are wider and also bear foramina, and the longitudinal central elevation is long and proximally wide, and forms a posteriorly raised crest. This elevation is delimited by a fairly broad and shallow depression on each side, separating the marginal elevation from the longitudinal central one. The exposed surfaces of fixed (or fused) osteoderms bear large and deep anterior foramina, the longitudinal central elevation and delimiting depressions are very pronounced. This new species increases the known diversity of the pampatheres from the ‘Conglomerado osífero’. Additionally, a new nomenclatural scheme for Pampatheriidae osteoderms is proposed. Fil: Gois Lima, Flavio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Paleontología de Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Scillato, Gustavo Juan. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Paleontología de Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Carlini, Alfredo Armando. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Paleontología de Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Guilherme, Edson. Universidade Federal do Acre; Brasil

A B S T R A C T First records of continental vertebrates from the upper levels of the ParanaFormation (Late Miocene) at La Juanita locality, Entre Rios Province (Mesopotamia, Argentina), are reported and evaluated from chronological, paleobiogeographical, and paleoenvironmental perspectives. Among caviomorph rodents, caviids, hydrochoerids, and the extinct octodontoid Plesiacarechimys are described. The pampatheriid Scirrotherium sp. and a phoenicoptherid bird are identified. A ''pre-Huayquerian'' age (older than 8.7 Ma) is proposed for the fossil bearing levels. The ''Paranense Sea'', one of the most widespread Middle-Late Miocene Atlantic transgressions that covered southern South America, is interpreted as an important geographical barrier promoting vicariance of the Plesiacarechimys lineage. Cavioids recovered from the ParanaFormation represent the first stages of the radiation of these rodents at the latitude of Entre Rios Province in the context of the whole South American subcontinent. The genesis of the fossiliferous level corresponds to a storm deposit in a littoral marine environment. Capybaras and flamingos suggest the presence of water bodies, saline lagoons, mudflats, or shallow brackish coastal or inland lakes, in accordance with the geological data of the ParanaFormation.

The Xenarthra Cingulata is one of the most characteristic groups in the Neotropical region. These American endemic mammals comprise several families, among them, the Pampatheriidae (middle Miocene-early Holocene) which are characterized by sharing traits with both the Dasypodidae and the Glyptodontidae. The genera Pampatherium Gervais & Ameghino and Holmesina Simpson, occur in both North and South America. In North America, the species H. floridanus, H. septentrionalis and P. mexicanum are recorded from the late Pliocene to the Pleistocene, whereas H. occidentalis, H. paulacoutoi, H. majus, P. humboldtii and P. typum are recorded in the Pleistocene of South America. New specie of the genus Holmesina is here proposed based on a skull without mandible found at the locality Araras/Periquitos, right margin of Madeira River, municipality of Vila Nova Mamoré, Rondônia State, from the Rio Madeira Formation (late Pleistocene-Holocene). The new specie differs from the other species of the genera Holmesina and Pampatherium by a series of distinctive morphological and allometric features: markedly slender skull, narrow straight nasals, slightly convex frontals, long parietals, and little developed sagittal crest. The zygomatic arch long and slender, without the large lateral area at orbital level observed in the other species, infraorbital process absent; temporal fossa wide and excavated/ deep; supraoccipital very high, deep, with external occipital crest prominent and lambdoid crest expanded posteriorly; palate narrow, with imbrication molariforms between MF2, MF3 and MF4., Os Xenarthra Cingulata são um dos grupos mais característicos da Região Neotropical e são mamíferos endêmicos das Américas, que compreendem várias famílias. Entre elas, os Pampatheriidae (Mioceno médio-Holoceno inferior) caracterizamse por compartilhar caracteres com os Dasypodidae e Glyptodontidae. Os gêneros Pampatherium Gervais & Ameghino e Holmesina Simpson encontram-se na América do Sul e América do Norte. Na América do Norte, entre o Plioceno superior e Pleistoceno estão registradas as espécies H. floridanus, H. septentrionalis e P. mexicanum. Para o Pleistoceno de América do Sul encontram-se H. occidentalis, H. paulacoutoi, H. majus, P. humboldtii e P. typum. Nova espécie para o gênero Holmesina é aqui proposta, baseada em um crânio sem mandíbula encontrado na localidade Araras/Periquitos, margem direita do rio Madeira, município de Vila Nova Mamoré, Rondônia, da Formação Rio Madeira (Pleistoceno superior-Holoceno). A nova espécie se diferencia das espécies de Holmesina e Pampatherium por possuir vários caracteres morfológicos e alométricos distintos: crânio menos robusto, nasais estreitos e retos, frontais suavemente convexos, parietais longos com crista sagital pouco marcada, arcada zigomática longa e delgada, sem a grande superfície lateral na altura da órbita presente nas outras espécies; processo infraorbitário ausente, fossa temporal ampla e escavada; supraoccipital bem alto, profundo, com uma crista occipital externa proeminente e lambdoidal expandida para trás; palato estreito e imbricação entre os molariformes MF2, MF3 e MF4., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

The Glyptodontidae is one of the most conspicuous groups in the Pleistocene megafauna of the Americas. The Glyptodontinae were involved in the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) and their earliest records in North America are about 3.9 Ma, suggesting an earlier formation of the Panamanian landbridge. Taxonomically it is possible to recognize two Pleistocene genera of Glyptodontinae:Glyptodon (ca. 1.8 – 0.008 Ma), restricted to South America, andGlyptotherium (ca. 2.6 – 0.009 Ma), including records in both North and Central America. Here we present the first report of the genusGlyptotherium in South America, from the Late Pleistocene of several fossil localities in Falcon State, northwestern Venezuela. A comparative analysis of the material, represented by cranial and postcranial parts, including the dorsal carapace and caudal rings, suggests a close affinity withGlyptotherium cylindricum (Late Pleistocene of Central Mexico). This occurrence in the latest Pleistocene of the northernmost region of South America Supports the bidirectional faunal migration during the GABI and the repeated re-immigration from North America of South American clades, as has been reported in other members of the Cingulata (e.g., Pampatheriidae)., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

The state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, has revealed an important paleontological potential of Quaternary deposits, especially because of the fossil richness in caves and rivers of the Serra da Bodoquena region. This study presents new taxonomic data of specimens collected from a new fossiliferous locality of the Pleistocene megafauna in this region, the Miranda River (Miranda, MS). Among the material that has been identified are fossil remains of Megatheriidae, Mylodontidae, Glyptodontinae, Pampatheriidae and Toxodontidae. It is important to mention the novel occurrence of the Pampatheriidae Holmesina , which fills a paleobiogeographic gap in South America.

Pampatheriidae are a group of cingulates native to South American that are known from the middle Miocene to the lower Holocene. Two genera have been recognized between the lower Pleistocene and the lower Holocene: Pampatherium Gervais and Ameghino (Ensenadan, Bonaerian and Lujanian, lower Pleistocene-lower Holocene) and Holmesina Simpson (Blancan, Irvingtonian, upper Pliocene-lower Holocene). They have been mainly differentiated by their osteoderm morphology and cranio-dental characters. These taxa had a wide latitudinal distribution, extending from the southern part of South America (Península Valdés, Argentina) to North America (Florida, USA). In this contribution, we describe a new genus and species of Pampatheriidae for the lower and middle Pleistocene of Buenos Aires Province and for the upper Pleistocene of Santa Fe Province (Argentina).The new taxon is represented by disarticulated osteoderms, one skull element, two thoracic vertebrae and a right femur and patella. It has extremely complex osteoderm ornamentations and particular morphological characters of the cranial element and femur that are not found in any other species of the family. This new taxon, recorded in the lower-middle Pleistocene (Ensenadan Stage/Age) and in the upper Pleistocene-early Holocene (Lujanian Stage/Age), is incorporated to the Pleistocene mammal assemblage of South America. Finally, the Pampatheriidae diversity is greater during the Lujanian Stage/Age than the Ensenadan Stage/Age., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

This paper deals mainly with the paleobiogeography of the South American Pampatheriidae of the late Pleistocene. Through analysis, we conclude that (1) the species of Quaternary pampatheres may be distinguished clearly by their carapace scutes and craniodental characters; (2) there are two pampathere genera in the South American Quaternary, Pampatherium and Holmesina; (3) no more than one species of each genus occurs in association at a single locality or site; (4) Holmesina differentiated in North America, entered South America during the Late Pleistocene, and later experienced speciation probably related to Late Pleistocene and Holocene climate changes; (5) Pampatherium differentiated in South America, and its speciation process produced a second immigration of pampatheres to North America; and (6) the use of contrasting environments may be observed among the Quaternary pampatheres. Fil: Scillato, Gustavo Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Paleontología de Vertebrados; Argentina Fil: Carlini, Alfredo Armando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Paleontología de Vertebrados; Argentina Fil: Tonni, Eduardo Pedro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Paleontología de Vertebrados; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina Fil: Noriega, Jorge Ignacio. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina

The masticatory apparatus of Pampatherium typum, P. humboldtii, and Holmesina paulacoutoi are analysed based on skull, mandibular and dental morphology and the inferred masticatory musculature. Comparison of the apparatus with those of other pampatheres suggests a trend toward increasing ability to process resistant vegetation from Holmesina through Pampatherium. The mechanical design of the apparatus among these pampatheres is nearly identical and has apparently undergone only minor variation since pampatheres first appear in the fossil record, suggesting strong phylogenetic constraint in the form of skeletal and dental elements. Main differences among taxa occur in features associated with the musculature, and thus the primary means for differentiation in masticatory function, which is correlated with diet, were changes resulting in differential force imput. Although the taxonomic status of some specimens is equivocal, indications are that the Plio-Pleistocene paleobiogeographic distribution of...

The form and function of the masticatory apparatus of the fossil genera Vassallia and Holmesina are analyzed so that the possible dietary behaviors of these pampathere xenarthrans might be inferred. Analysis is based on comparisons of dental morphology and skeletal features (through RFTRA) associated with the masticatory musculature among the pampatheres, the extant dasypodids Euphractus and Dasypus, and the glyptodont Propalaeohoplophorus. A method is proposed for generating a moment arm of the massetericus independently of the muscle's line of action, which allows direct comparison among extant and fossil mammals. The masticatory apparatus of the pampatheres strongly resembles that of Euphractus among extant forms, but the development of muscular attachment sites indicates a more powerful musculature, particularly the massetericus; the taxa differ most markedly in dental morphology. Long moment arms about the jaw joint and large ratios of muscle to bite moments indicate forceful rather than quick movements. The various skeletal and dental features analyzed suggest that the masticatory apparatus of the pampatheres was more powerful and efficient in transverse chewing than in dasypodids and that they were primarily grazers consuming mainly coarse vegetation. These features, some shared with herbivorous ungulates, include wide, relatively flat mandibular condyles; condyles well dorsal to muscular insertion sites; expanded angular processes; unfused symphysis; a posteriorly extended tooth row; open-rooted teeth; mesial teeth that bear mainly transverse striations; distal teeth that are mesiodistally elongated, bear basined occlusal surfaces, and in Vassallia possess a central island of resistant dentine that acted as a functional analogue of an ectoloph; and teeth with a stepwise arrangement. The results of this study indicate that detailed analysis and comparison of morphology lead to useful predictions of behavior.

Se registra por primera vez el género Scirrotherium y se describe una nueva especie para el Hemphilliano temprano de Costa Rica. Este hallazgo constituye una nueva evidencia sobre el arribo temprano de los heraldos sudamericanos a América Central durante el Pre-Gran Intercambio Biótico Americano, incrementando en al menos 3 Ma el registro de la familia Pampatheriidae en el Hemisferio Norte. La nueva especie de América Central difiere de las especies suramericanas de Scirrotherium por tener osteodermos con una ornamentación inconspicua, figura central simple y una muy amplia área superficial. For the first time the genus Scirrotherium is recorded and a new species is described for the early Hemphillian of Costa Rica. This finding constitutes a new clue about the early arrived of South American heralds to Central American during Pre-Great American Biotic Interchange, increasing by at least 3 Ma the record of the Pampatheriidae family in the Northern Hemisphere. The new Central America species described herein differs from the South American species of Scirrotherium because they have osteoderms with an inconspicuous ornamentation, a plain central figure and a remarkable area size.

The Peltephilidae (Mammalia, Xenarthra) from the Collón Curá Formation (Colloncuran, Middle Miocene), Argentina. The Peltephilidae (early Eocene-late Miocene) are a group of extinct armadillos exclusive from South America, known for having horn-like osteoderms on the nasals and maxillaries. This paper discusses a nomenclatorial proposal for anatomical description of these cingulate osteoderms and describes for the fi rst time specimens of Peltephilidae (Xenarthra, Cingulata) from the Collón Curá Formation (Colloncuran, middle Miocene) of Patagonia (Argentina). The major change in the nomenclature of the osteoderms in Peltephilidae here proposed is to replace the term “central or main fi gure” by “central longitudinal elevation”. Finally, by analogy with the living species of Dasypodidae and the extinct Pampatheriidae, some considerations are presented about the relationships between the osteoderm and the overlying epidermal scale in Peltephilidae. The new specimens are assigned to Peltephilidae gen. et sp. indet., Peltephilus pumilus Ameghino and P. nanus Ameghino. The latter two species represent their youngest record and indicate a closer taxonomic affi nity of the Colloncuran age with the previous Santacrucian, instead of the subsequent Laventan and Mayoan, Os Peltephilidae (Eoceno inferior-Mioceno superior) são um grupo de cingulados extintos exclusivos da América do Sul, conhecidos por apresentar alguns osteodermos cefálicos diferenciados num par de cornos pré-orbitários. Neste trabalho se discute uma proposta nomenclatural para a descrição anatômica dos osteodermos desses cingulados e se descrevem pela primeira vez restos de Peltephilidae (Xenarthra, Cingulata) para a Formação Collón Curá (Colloncurense, Miocen o médio) da Patagônia (Argentina). A principal mudança na nomenclatura dos osteodermos dos Peltephilidae aqui proposta, é a substituição do termo “figura central ou principal” por “elevação central longitudinal”. Finalmente, por analogia com as espécies de Dasypodidae atuais e Pampatheriidae são apresentadas algumas considerações sobre a relação entre o osteodermo e a escama epidérmica sobrejacente nos Peltephilidae. Os novos espécimens são atribuídos a Peltephilidae gen. et sp. indet., Peltephilus pumilus Ameghino e P. nanus Ameghino. Os últimos dois registros são os mais recentes para ambas espécies e indicam uma maior afi nidade taxonômica da idade Colloncurense à precedente Santacruzense, do que com as posteriores Laventense e Maioense., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

El objetivo de la presente Tesis Doctoral es realizar un estudio sistemático, anatómico y filogenético de los Pampatheriidae, evaluando sus afinidades con otros Cingulata. Tradicionalmente se reconocen seis géneros de Pampatheriidae (sensu SCILLATO-YANÉ, 1980, 1982; EDMUND, 1996; EDMUND & THEODOR, 1997; SCILLATO-YANÉ et al., 2005; GÓIS et al., 2012b), considerados válidos por el autor de esta Tesis: Scirrotherium, Kraglievichia, Vassallia, Plaina, Pampatherium y Holmesina. Asimismo, se agregan dos nuevos géneros: Gen. nov. A y Gen. nov. B., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

For the first time the genus Scirrotherium is recorded and a new species is described for the early Hem- phillian of Costa Rica. This finding constitutes a new clue about the early arrived of South American heralds to Central American during Pre-Great American Biotic Interchange, increasing by at least 3 Ma the record of the Pampatheriidae family in the Northern Hemisphere. The new Central America species described herein differs from the South American species of Scirrotherium because they have osteoderms with an inconspicuous ornamentation, a plain central figure and a remarkable area size.Keywords: Mammalia, Xenarthra, Pampatheriidae, Scirrotherium, Upper Miocene, Costa Rica, pre-GABI. Se registra por primera vez el género Scirrotherium y se describe una nueva especie para el Hemphillia- no temprano de Costa Rica. Este hallazgo constituye una nueva evidencia sobre el arribo temprano de los heraldos sudamericanos a América Central durante el Pre-Gran Intercambio Biótico Americano, incrementando en al menos 3 Ma el registro de la familia Pampatheriidae en el Hemisferio Norte. La nueva especie de América Central difiere de las especies suramericanas de Scirrotherium por tener osteodermos con una ornamentación inconspicua, figura central simple y una muy amplia área superficial

For the first time the genus Scirrotherium is recorded and a new species is described for the early Hem- phillian of Costa Rica. This finding constitutes a new clue about the early arrived of South American heralds to Central American during Pre-Great American Biotic Interchange, increasing by at least 3 Ma the record of the Pampatheriidae family in the Northern Hemisphere. The new Central America species described herein differs from the South American species of Scirrotherium because they have osteoderms with an inconspicuous ornamentation, a plain central figure and a remarkable area size.Keywords: Mammalia, Xenarthra, Pampatheriidae, Scirrotherium, Upper Miocene, Costa Rica, pre-GABI.

Pampatheres are extinct, large-bodied cingulates, which share morphological characters with both armadillos and glyptodonts but are considered to be more closely related to the latter. The osteoderm histology of six pampathere taxa was examined and compared to the histology of other cingulate osteoderms. This study investigates the development and functional adaptation of pampathere osteoderms as well as the phylogenetic relationships of the Pampatheriidae within the Cingulata. We found that pampathere osteoderms share a uniform histological organization based on a basic diploe-like structure. After initial stages of intramembranous growth, metaplastic ossification, that is, the direct incorporation and mineralization of pre-existing protein fibers, plays an important role in osteoderm development and provides information on various kinds of soft tissue otherwise not preserved. The latest stages of osteoderm growth are dominated by periosteal bone formation especially in the superficial cortex. Movable band osteoderms show regular arrangements of incorporated fibers that may increase the resistance of particularly weak areas against strain. The histological composition of pampathere osteoderms is plesiomorphic in its basic structure but shows a number of derived features. A unique array of Sharpey's fibers that are incorporated into the bone matrix at sutured osteoderm margins is interpreted as a synapomorphy of pampatheres. The arrangement of dermal fibers in the deep and superficial cortexes supports the close relationship between pampatheres and glyptodonts. J. Morphol., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Se registra por primera vez en la localidad fosilífera del Río Tomayate, Departamento de San Salvador, El Salvador, la especie Holmesina septentrionalis (Leidy, 1889), tal determinación se fundamenta en el análisis comparativo de las variables biométricas de espesores versus áreas de todas las especies norteamericanas de la Familia Pampatheriidae. El presente hallazgo corresponde con el registro más austral de la especie en América Central.

The «Gruta das Onças», a cave situated in the Caatinga do Moura district, municipulity of Jacobina, Bahia State, has been a rich source of fossils (Cartelle & Bohórquez, 1982 and Cartelle, 1983). In this same fóssil bed we have found large quantities of skeletal pieces of Eremotherium laurillardi (Lund, 1842), together voith Nothrotherium maquinense Lydekker, 1889, Smilodon populator populator Lund, 1842 and a series of skeletal pieces of the giant armadillo vohich is the object of our present study. In this study we have given special emphasis to the cranium; a comparative study of related species, especially Pampatherium humboldti (Lund), 1839, is made.