Brief description of materials of Panochthus Burmeister (Xenarthra; Cingulata; Glyptodontidae) recorded at higher altitudes

Abstract

Panochthus Burmeister constitutes one of the most abundant, diversied and widely distributed xenarthrans of the South American Pleistocene, as well as one of the glyptodontids with higher latitudinal and altitudinal distributions. In this contribution are analyzed those records assigned to the genus, recovered at higher altitudes. In decreasing order of height / elevation: (1) Panochthus hipsilis: fragmentary skull, two vertebrae, almost complete dorsal armor (MURB 1906A/B, holotype) and caudal tube (MHNS 8, paratype); surroundings of Potosí (Bolivia); ~4000 meters. (2) Panochthus sp.: isolated osteoderm (MUSM-s/n); Desaguadero (Perú); ~3800 meters. (3) Panochthus intermedius: almost complete specimen (MHNC-13491); vicinity of Cochabamba (Bolivia); ~2600 meters. (4) Panochthus sp.: dorsal osteoderm and caudal tube portions (MNPA/V 006598); Tarija Valley (Bolivia); ~1870 meters. (5) Panochthus sp.: caudal tube (MUFyCA 383); Traslasierra Valley (Argentina); ~920 meters. P. hipsilis would represent an endemic species of the Bolivian Altiplano, possibly adapted to high altitudes. There is a probable relationship between geographical altitude and body mass in P. intermedius, since the holotipe from the Pampean Region is larger than the paratipe from the Bolivian Altiplano. This correlation was cited in other Xenarthra, e.g., Megatheriinae and others Glyptodontidae (Glyptodon Owen).