New pleistocene remains of megatherium filholi Moreno, 1888 (Mammalia, Xenarthra) from the pampean region: Implications for the diversity of Megatheriinae of the quaternary of South America

Abstract

Recent analyses resulted in the recognition of a single species of the genus Megatherium in the pampas of Argentina. The finding of a specimen consisting on a dentary and femur from the late Pleistocene of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, indicates that a very small-sized species of the genus was present in the Pampean Region. This allows revalidating the taxon Megatherium filholi, previously considered as a junior synonym of another taxon. Megatherium filholi appears to be allied to Megatherium species of the “Andean clade”. This, together with finding of additional small-sized megatheriines in the Argentine pampas, suggests a complex palaeobiogeographical scenario and indicates that the diversity of megatheriines at the pampas may be underrepresented.