Nothropus

Nothropus is an extinct genus of ground sloth of the family Nothrotheriidae, endemic to South America during the Pleistocene epoch. It lived from 0.781 mya—12,000 years ago existing for approximately 0.769 million years . It was believed to be a ground-dwelling herbivore.[1]

Nothropus
Temporal range: Mid-Late Pleistocene (Ensenadan)
~0.78–0.012 Ma
↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pilosa
Family: †Nothrotheriidae
Subfamily: †Nothrotheriinae
Genus: †Nothropus
Burmeister (1882)
Species
  • N. nordenskioldi
  • N. priscus

Taxonomy

Nothropus priscus and Nothropus nordenskioldi are described as subtaxa. Nothropus was named by Hermann Burmeister (1882). It was assigned to Megalonychidae by L. G. Marshall and T. Sempere (1991)[2] and to Nothrotheriidae by Christian de Muizon et al. (2004).[3]

Fossil distribution

Fossils have been uncovered from the Tarija Formation, Tarija Department, Bolivia, east side of the Andes Mountains.[4]

References
  1. PaleoBiology Database: Nothropus, basic info
  2. L. G. Marshall and T. Sempere. 1991. The Eocene to Pleistocene vertebrates of Bolivia and their stratigraphic context: a review. Fósiles y Facies de Bolivia - Vol. 1 Vertebrados (Revista Ténica de YPFB) 12(3-4):631-652
  3. Muizon, C. de; McDonald, H. G.; Salas, R.; Urbina, M. (June 2004). "The Youngest Species of the Aquatic Sloth Thalassocnus and a Reassessment of the Relationships of the Nothrothere Sloths (Mammalia: Xenarthra)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. 24 (2): 387–397. doi:10.1671/2429a. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  4. Paleobiology Database: Nothropus, collections.
  • Classification of Mammals by Malcolm C. McKenna and Susan K. Bell


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