Ahytherium
| Ahytherium Temporal range: Early to Late Pleistocene, 0.781–0.012 Ma | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Superorder: | Xenarthra |
| Order: | Pilosa |
| Family: | †Megalonychidae |
| Genus: | †Ahytherium Cartelle et al., 2008 |
| Species: | †Ahytherium aureum |
| Type species | |
| †Ahytherium aureum Cartelle et al., 2008 | |
Ahytherium is an extinct genus of megalonychid sloth found in Brazil.[1] The shape of the tail of Ahytherium indicates that it may have been a skilled swimmer, like the marine Thalassocnus.[2]
Discovery and taxonomy
The almost-complete fossil of Ahytherium was discovered in Chapada Diamantina National Park in 2005. It was described by Castor Cartelle of Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais.[3] The bones, which had a length of about 3 feet when put together, belong to an animal which was still growing.
See also
References
- ↑ Cartelle, C., De Iuliis, G., & Pujos, F. (2008). A new species of Megalonychidae (Mammalia, Xenarthra) from the quaternary of Poço Azul (Bahia, Brazil). Comptes Rendus Palevol, 7(6), 335-346.
- ↑ Preguiça terrícola com hábitos aquáticos - Ciencia Hoje
- ↑ A preguiça de ouro | Revista Pesquisa FAPESP
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