Abstract

BRANDONI, Diego  and  SCILLATO-YANE, Gustavo J.. The Megatheriinae (Xenarthra, Tardigrada) from the Tertiary of Entre Ríos, Argentina: taxonomic and systematic aspects. Ameghiniana [online]. 2007, vol.44, n.2, pp.427-434. ISSN 1851-8044.

The subfamily Megatheriinae has been recorded from the Colloncuran (Middle Miocene) to the Lujanian (Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene). A summary of the present state of knowledge of the megatheriines of the Ituzaingó Formation of Entre Ríos Province is given. The diversity of Megatheriinae of the aforementioned unit is higher than that of any other in Argentina. However, the nature of the deposits and the fragmentary and dissociated nature of the remains on which the species were recognized, have led to an overestimation of the diversity in this formation. We conclude that there were two "groups" of megatheriines in the "Conglomerado osífero" of the Ituzaingó Formation: 1) small to middle sized forms, represented by Promegatherium smaltatum Ameghino, Pliomegatherium lelongi Kraglievich and Eomegatherium nanum (Burmeisker); and 2) larger forms, represented by Pyramiodontherium sp.

Keywords : Argentina; Entre Ríos Province; Miocene; Megatheriinae; Systematics.