Eutatus
| Eutatus | |
|---|---|
| Eutatus punctatus skeleton | |
| Eutatus punctatus armour | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Cingulata |
| Family: | Chlamyphoridae |
| Genus: | †Eutatus Gervais 1867 |
| Species[1] | |
Eutatus is an extinct genus of large armadillos of the family Chlamyphoridae. It was endemic to South America from the Early Miocene to Late Pleistocene, living from 17.5 Ma-11,000 years ago, with possible survival into the early Holocene (~ 7,500 BP)[2] and existing for approximately 17.49 million years.[1]
Taxonomy
[edit]Eutatus was named by Gervais (1867). The type species is E. seguini. It was assigned to Dasypodidae by Carroll (1988).[3]
Fossil distribution
[edit]The fossil remains are confined to Argentina and have been found in the Santacrucian Santa Cruz Formation,[4] Ensenadan Miramar Formation,[5] and the Lujanian Luján Formation.[6]
Palaeobiology
[edit]The overall masticatory apparatus morphology of Eutatus suggests that it was adapted for browsing.[7] Based on carbon isotope ratios, however, it is thought to have been an herbivore that fed on grasses.[2]
Gallery
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Eutatus at Fossilworks.org
- ^ a b Prado, J. L.; Martinez-Maza, C.; Alberdi, M. T. (2015). "Megafauna extinction in South America: A new chronology for the Argentine Pampas". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 425: 41–49. Bibcode:2015PPP...425...41P. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.02.026.
- ^ R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W.H. Freeman and Company
- ^ Coy Inlet at Fossilworks.org
- ^ Punta Hermengo at Fossilworks.org
- ^ Paso Otero-Pardo at Fossilworks.org
- ^ Vizcaíno, Sergio F.; Fariña, Richard A.; Bargo, M. Susana; Iullis, Gerardo De (2004). "Functional and phylogenetic assessment of the masticatory adaptations in Cingulata (Mammalia, Xenarthra)". Ameghiniana (in Spanish). 41 (4): 651–664. ISSN 1851-8044. Retrieved 5 October 2025 – via Ameghiniana.