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Type: Article
Published: 2019-08-29
Page range: 401–444
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A new and most complete pampathere (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Cingulata) from the Quaternary of Bahia, Brazil

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Paleoecologia e Paleoicnologia, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva (DEBE), Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, KM 235, São Carlos, 13565-905, SP, Brazil.
Laboratorio de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción (CICYTTP–CONICET), Materi y España, 3105 Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina.
Laboratorio de Morfología Evolutiva y Desarrollo (MORPHOS), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. División Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque S/Nº, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Paleoecologia e Paleoicnologia, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva (DEBE), Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, KM 235, São Carlos, 13565-905, SP, Brazil.
Mammalia armadillo osteology fossil axial skeleton cave

Abstract

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.

 

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