| Sibotherium | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Pilosa |
| Family: | † Megatheriidae |
| Genus: | † Sibotherium Rincón et al., 2020 |
| Species: | †S. ka |
| Binomial name | |
| †Sibotherium ka Rincón et al., 2020 | |
Sibotherium is an extinct genus of ground sloth in the family Megatheriidae that lived in what is now Costa Rica during the Late Miocene. It was a large ground sloth, weighing more than 2,500 kg. [1]
Fossils of Sibotherium have been found in the Curré Formation in the Puntarenas Province of Costa Rica. The finds are 5.8 million years old and date to the Late Hemphillian, falling within the Late Miocene. The holotype is a left ankle bone. Skeletal parts of some individuals of Sibotherium have also been found, namely partial mandibles, molars, a collarbone and parts of the legs, hands and feet. [1]
The genus name, Sibotherium is derived from Sibö, the good creator in Bribri mythology, and therion, Greek for "beast". In the beginning Sibö made the Earth, the land, the animals and the plants according to the myths of the Bribri, the original inhabitants of southern Costa Rica. This name was chosen because Sibotherium was one of the first South American migrants to shape the new faunal composition of Central America. The species name refers to the Bribri word Ká , which means "place". [1]
Within the family Megatheriidae, Sibotherium belongs to the subfamily Megatheriinae. Sibotherium occupies a basal position within this subfamily and Sibotherium is most closely related to Megathericulus , Pyramiodontherium and Anisodontherium .
Sibotherium is the oldest known representative of the Megatheriidae that occurred outside of South America and lived in southern Central America at a time when the Panamanian isthmus was not yet closed, leaving a strait between southern Central America and northwestern Central America. It is believed that Sibotherium or its ancestor reached southern Central America over a temporary land bridge during a period of sea level decline, tectonic rise or a combination of both. [1]
Dinohippus is an extinct equid which was endemic to North America from the late Hemphillian stage of the Miocene through the Zanclean stage of the Pliocene and in existence for approximately 6.7 million years. Fossils are widespread throughout North America, being found at more than 30 sites from Florida to Alberta and Panama.
Thalassocnus is an extinct genus of semiaquatic ground sloths from the Miocene and Pliocene of the Pacific South American coast. It is monotypic within the subfamily Thalassocninae. The five species—T. antiquus, T. natans, T. littoralis, T. carolomartini, and T. yuacensis—represent a chronospecies, a population gradually adapting to marine life in one direct lineage. They are the only known aquatic sloths, but they may have also been adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle. They have been found in the Pisco Formation of Peru, the Tafna Formation of Argentina, and the Bahía Inglesa, Coquimbo, and Horcón formations of Chile. Thalassocninae has been placed in both the families Megatheriidae and Nothrotheriidae.
Eremotherium is an extinct genus of giant ground sloth in the family Megatheriidae. Eremotherium lived in southern North America, Central America, and northern South America from the Pliocene, around 5.3 million years ago, to the end of the Late Pleistocene, around 10,000 years ago. Eremotherium was one of the largest ground sloths, with a body size comparable to elephants, weighing around 4–6.5 tonnes and measuring about 6 metres (20 ft) long, slightly larger than its close relative Megatherium.
Mixotoxodon is an extinct genus of notoungulate of the family Toxodontidae inhabiting South America, Central America and parts of southern North America during the Pleistocene epoch, from 1,800,000—12,000 years ago.
Mylodontinae is an extinct subfamily of ground sloths that lived from the Early Miocene to the Early Holocene epochs.
The Río Banano Formation is a geologic formation in Costa Rica of the Limón Group. It preserves fossils dating back to the Middle Miocene to Piacenzian period.
The Paso Real Formation is a geologic formation in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. The sandstones and conglomerates preserve vertebrate fossils dating back to the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene period.
The Curré Formation is a geologic formation of the Taraba Basin Group in Costa Rica. The deltaic conglomerates preserve fossils dating back to the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene period (Hemphillian).
The Urumaco Formation is a formation in Venezuela that includes deposits from the Late Miocene. It is the site of several "giant forms": the turtles, crocodiles, sloths and rodents of Urumaco are among the largest of their groups.
Megatheriinae is a subfamily of the Megatheriidae, an extinct family of ground sloths that lived from the Middle Miocene to the Early Holocene.
Pseudoprepotherium is an extinct genus of sloths of the family Mylodontidae. It was widespread across northern South America during the Early to Late Miocene epoch around 21 to 5.3 million years ago. Fossils of the animal have been found in Brazil, Venezuela, and Peru. Pseudoprepotherium lived in a tropical climate with a water-rich environment. Their known remains are limited to limb bones, except for a few skulls and teeth. Based on these remains, they were most likely medium to large-sized mylodontid. The genus was described in 1961 and currently contains three species, which were originally assigned to the genus Prepotherium.
Megathericulus is an extinct genus of ground sloths in the Megatheriidae family. It lived during the Middle Miocene, 11-16 Ma in what is now South America. Fossils have been found principally in Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. It is a smaller representative of the megatheres. Despite being one of the earliest-known members of the family, its dentition structure is associated with homodont teeth belonging to the more modern line of evolution. The genus was scientifically named in 1904. Only one species is currently recognized, Megathericulus patagonicus.
Prosthennops is a genus of extinct peccaries that lived in North and Central America between the middle Miocene and lower Pliocene.
Proeremotherium is an extinct genus of megatheriine ground sloths in the family Megatheriidae. It lived during the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene of what is now Venezuela. So far, two largely complete skulls have been recovered in the Falcón Basin in Venezuela. The finds identify the animals as medium-sized representatives of the Megatheriidae. In the cranial anatomy, Proeremotherium resembles the later and giant Eremotherium. It is therefore assumed that the two ground sloths are directly related to each other.
Baraguatherium is an extinct genus of ground sloths of the family Mylodontidae that lived during the Early Miocene of what is now Venezuela. It dates to the Early Miocene, around 20.44 to 15.97 million years ago and represents the oldest representative of its family in the northern part of South America to date. The structure of the teeth suggests that the genus represents a rather basal form within the Mylodontidae. Unlike other mylodonts, which tended to prefer open grasslands, Baraguatherium lived in a riverine, coastal tropical rainforest.
Prepoplanops is an extinct genus of ground sloth of the family Megatheriidae. It lived in the Miocene around 18 to 16 million years ago of what is now Argentina. The only known species is Prepoplanops boleadorensis.
Urumacocnus is an extinct genus of megalonychid sloth that lived during the Miocene in Venezuela. The genus contains one known species, Urumacocnus urbanii. Fossils have been found in the Urumaco Formation of Venezuela.
Bolivartherium is an extinct genus of mylodontine mylodontid sloth that lived during the Late Miocene and Late Pliocene in what is now Venezuela. Fossils have been found in the Codore and Urumaco Formations of Venezuela.
Magdalenabradys is an extinct genus of mylodontid ground sloths that lived during the Middle Miocene and Early Pliocene of what is now Colombia and Venezuela. Fossils have been found in the Villavieja Formation of the Honda Group in Colombia, and the Codore and Urumaco Formations of Venezuela.
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