Promegatherium

Promegatherium ("before Megatherium") is a genus of prehistoric xenarthrans that lived in Argentina, during the Late Miocene. This genus is regarded as closely related to the later, and more famous genus, Megatherium, hence the reference in the name. The first specimens of Promegatherium were originally described by the biologist Florentino Ameghino in 1887. Its known species are Promegatherium cabreri, P. nanum, P. parvulum, P. remulsum, and P. smaltatus. P. nanum was originally placed in the genus "Eomegatherium" before it was grouped together in Promegatherium.

Promegatherium
Temporal range: Late Miocene (Huayquerian)
~9.0–6.8 Ma
↓
Promegatherium nanum and Nesodon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Xenarthra
Family:
†Megatheriidae
Subfamily:
†Megatheriinae
Tribe:
†Megatheriini
Subtribe:
†Megatheriina
Genus:
†Promegatherium

Ameghino, 1887
Species

†P. cabreri
†P. nanum
†P. parvulum
†P. remulsum
†P. smaltatus

Fossils of Promegatherium have been found in the Ituzaingó Formation in Argentina.[1]

References
  1. Promegatherium at Fossilworks.org

Further reading
  • Family tree of Megatheriidae
  • M. C. McKenna & S. K. Bell (eds.) (1997): Classification of mammals, above the species level. New York: Columbia University Press.


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