Ahytherium
| Ahytherium Temporal range: Early to Late Pleistocene,
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| Genus: | †Ahytherium Cartelle et al., 2008
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| Species: | †Ahytherium aureum
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| †Ahytherium aureum Cartelle et al., 2008
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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