Boreostemma

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Boreostemma
Boreostemma tail - Honda Group - Colombia.jpg
Tail of Boreostemma from the Honda Group
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cingulata
Family: Chlamyphoridae
Subfamily: Glyptodontinae
Genus: Boreostemma
Carlini et al. 2008
Type species
Boreostemma pliocena
Carlini et al. 2008
Species
  • B. acostae Villarroel 1983
  • B. giganteaCarlini et al. 1997
  • B. pliocenaCarlini et al. 2008
  • B. venezolensis Simpson 1947

Boreostemma is an extinct genus of glyptodonts from northern South America. Fossils assigned to the genus were first described as belonging to Asterostemma from southern South America, but have been placed in the new genus Boreostemma by Carlini et al. in 2008. The type species is B. pliocena. Fossils of Boreostemma have been found in the Honda Group of Colombia, in Peru and Venezuela.

Contents

Etymology

The genus name Boreostemma is a combination of stemma, taken from Asterostemma , and boreo is derived from borealis, meaning "northern", to distinguish the northern South American genus from the southern Asterostemma. [1]

Taxonomy

Boreostemma has been placed as closely related to the later Glyptodon and Glyptotherium . Cladogram after Barasoain et al. 2022 [2] :

Glyptodonts
Traditional Glyptodontinae

Boreostemma

Glyptotherium

Glyptodon

"Austral clade"

Propalaehoplophorus

Eucinepeltus

Cochlops

Palaehoplophorus

Kelenkura

Eosclerocalyptus

Plohophorus

Pseudohoplophorus

Doedicurinae

Doedicurus

Eleutherocercus

Neosclerocalyptus

Hoplophorini

Hoplophorus

Propanochthus

Panochthus

Species

South America laea relief location map.jpg
Brown pog.svg
Brown pog.svg
Orange pog.svg
Yellow pog.svg
Gold pog.svg
Yellow ffff80 pog.svg
Locations of Boreostemma and Asterostemma fossil finds in South America
Brown pog.svg Asterostemma
Orange pog.svg B. acostae & B. gigantea
Yellow pog.svg B. pliocena (type)
Gold pog.svg B. venezolensis
Yellow ffff80 pog.svg Boreostemma sp.

Four species have been described in the genus Boreostemma. [3] Unspecified Boreostemma fossils were found in the Ipururo Formation of the department of Ucayali, Amazonian Peru. [4] [5] [6] Asterostemma contains the type species A. depressa and several nomina dubia. The genus has been found in the Early Miocene (Santacrucian in the SALMA classification) Santa Cruz Formation of the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina and in the Solimões Formation in the state of Acre, Amazonian Brazil. [7] [8]

B. pliocena

The type species B. pliocena was described in 2008 by Carlini et al. based on 30 osteoderms palate fragment with M6-7 alveoli. [9] Fossils have been described from the type locality along the road to Tío Gregorio in the Codore Formation at the Lagerstätte of Urumaco. [10]

B. gigantea

B. gigantea was described as Asterostemma gigantea in 1997 by Carlini et al. based on a partial skeleton. [11] Fossils have been recovered at the Duke Localities 32, 108, 113, 114 and 121W in the La Victoria Formation of the Honda Group at the Konzentrat-Lagerstätte La Venta. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

B. acostae

B. acostae was described as Asterostemma acostae in 1983 by Carlos Villarroel based on a carapace fragment with 44 plates. [17] Fossils have been found in the Cerbatana Member, and the Chunchullo Sandstone of the La Victoria Formation, of the Honda Group at the Konzentrat-Lagerstätte La Venta. [18] [19]

B. venezolensis

B. venezolensis was described as Asterostemma venezolensis in 1947 by George Gaylord Simpson, [20] based on most of the carapace and the anterior end of the lower jaw, including teeth. [21] Fossils have been uncovered from the Santa Inés Formation along the banks of the Güere River in the state of Anzoátegui in Venezuela. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glyptodont</span> Subfamily of extinct mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

Glyptodonts are an extinct clade of large, heavily armoured armadillos, reaching up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height, and maximum body masses of around 2 tonnes. They had short, deep skulls, a fused vertebral column, and a large bony carapace made up of hundreds of individual scutes. Some glyptodonts had clubbed tails, similar to ankylosaurid dinosaurs.

<i>Doedicurus</i> An extinct genus of mammals belonging to the armadillo order, Cingulata

Doedicurus is an extinct genus of glyptodont from South America containing one species, D. clavicaudatus. Glyptodonts are a member of the family Chlamyphoridae, which also includes some modern armadillo species, and they are classified in the superorder Xenarthra alongside sloths and anteaters. Being a glyptodont, it was a rotund animal with heavy armor and a carapace. Averaging at an approximate 1,400 kg (3,100 lb), it was one of the largest glyptodonts to have ever lived. Though glyptodonts were quadrupeds, large ones like Doedicurus may have been able to stand on two legs like other xenarthrans. It notably sported a spiked tail club, which may have weighed 40 or 65 kg in life, and it may have swung this in defense against predators or in fights with other Doedicurus at speeds of perhaps 11 m/s.

<i>Glyptotherium</i> An extinct genus of mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

Glyptotherium is a genus of glyptodont in the family Chlamyphoridae that lived from the Early Pliocene, about 3.6 million years ago, to the Late Pleistocene, around 15,000 years ago. It had a wide distribution, living in the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, Venezuela, and Brazil. The genus was first described in 1903 by American paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn with the type species being, G. texanum, based on fossils that had been found in the Pliocene Blancan Beds in Llano Estacado, Texas, USA. Glyptotherium fossils have since been unearthed from many more fossil sites, from Florida to Colombia. Another species, G. cylindricum, was named in 1912 by fossil hunter Barnum Brown on the basis of a partial skeleton that had been unearthed from the Pleistocene deposits in Jalisco, Mexico. The two species differ in several aspects, including age, with G. texanum being from the older Early Pliocene to Early Pleistocene strata, whereas G. cylindricum is exclusive to the Late Pleistocene.

<i>Hoplophorus</i> An extinct genus of mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

Hoplophorus is an extinct genus of glyptodont, a subfamily of armadillos. The only confidently known species was H. euphractus, found in Pleistocene deposits in Brazil, though fossils possibly from another species are known from Bolivia.

<i>Panochthus</i> An extinct genus of mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

Panochthus is an extinct genus of glyptodont, which lived in the Gran Chaco-Pampean region of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay during the Pleistocene epoch.

<i>Glyptodon</i> Genus of large, heavily armored mammals

Glyptodon is a genus of glyptodont, an extinct group of large, herbivorous armadillos, that lived from the Pliocene, around 3.2 million years ago, to the early Holocene, around 11,000 years ago, in Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Colombia. It is one of, if not the, best known genus of glyptodont. Glyptodon has a long and storied past, being the first named extinct cingulate and the type genus of the subfamily Glyptodontinae. Fossils of Glyptodon have been recorded as early as 1814 from Pleistocene aged deposits from Uruguay, though many were incorrectly referred to the ground sloth Megatherium by early paleontologists.

<i>Eleutherocercus</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Eleutherocercus was a genus of glyptodonts that lived during the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene in South America. Fossils of the genus have been found in the Huayquerian Ituzaingó Formation and the Montehermosan Monte Hermoso Formation in Argentina.

<i>Neosclerocalyptus</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Neosclerocalyptus was an extinct genus of glyptodont that lived during the Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Holocene of Southern South America, mostly Argentina. It was small compared to many Glyptodonts at only around 2 meters long and 360 kilograms.

<i>Lomaphorus</i> Extinct genus of mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

Lomaphorus is a possibly dubious extinct genus of glyptodont that lived during the Pleistocene in eastern Argentina. Although many species have been referred, the genus itself is possibly dubious or synonymous with other glyptodonts like Neoslerocalyptus from the same region.

Kelenkura is an extinct genus of heavily armored mammals belonging to the subfamily Glyptodontinae, from the family Chlamyphoridae that contain most of the modern armadillos. It was a medium-sized South American animal, distantly related to Doedicurus. Fossils of this genus were recovered in the Arroyo Chasicó Formation and in the Loma de Las Tapias Formation of Argentina in rocks dating back to the Late Miocene epoch.

Proeuphractus is an extinct genus of xenarthran, related to the modern armadillos. It lived from the Early to the Late Miocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America.

Eucinepeltus is an extinct genus of glyptodont. It lived during the Early Miocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America.

Palaehoplophorus is an extinct genus of glyptodont. It lived from the Middle to the Late Miocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America.

Urotherium is an extinct genus of Glyptodont. It lived from the Late Miocene to the Late Pliocene, and its fossilized remains were found in South America.

Neuryurus is an extinct genus of glyptodont. It lived from the Late Pliocene to the Early Holocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America.

Comaphorus is a dubious extinct genus of glyptodont. It lived during the Late Miocene in Argentina, but only one fossil has ever been referred to the animal.

Asterostemma is an extinct genus of glyptodont. It lived during the Middle Miocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America.

<i>Cochlops</i> An extinct genus of mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

Cochlops is an extinct genus of glyptodont. It lived from the Early to Middle Miocene, and its fossilized remains have been found in South America.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peltephilidae</span> Family of South American cingulates (armadillos)

Peltephilidae is a family of South American cingulates (armadillos) that lived for over 40 million years, but peaked in diversity towards the end of the Oligocene and beginning of the Miocene in what is now Argentina. They were exclusive to South America due to its geographic isolation at the time, one of many of the continent's strange endemic families. Peltephilids are one of the earliest known cingulates, diverging from the rest of Cingulata in the Early Eocene.

References

  1. Carlini et al. 2008, p. 142.
  2. Barasoain, Daniel; Zurita, Alfredo E.; Croft, Darin A.; Montalvo, Claudia I.; Contreras, Víctor H.; Miño-Boilini, Ángel R.; Tomassini, Rodrigo L. (June 2022). "A New Glyptodont (Xenarthra: Cingulata) from the Late Miocene of Argentina: New Clues About the Oldest Extra-Patagonian Radiation in Southern South America". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 29 (2): 263–282. doi:10.1007/s10914-021-09599-w. ISSN   1064-7554. S2CID   245945029.
  3. Boreostemma at Fossilworks.org
  4. IN-DTC-28 at Fossilworks.org
  5. IN-DTC-32 at Fossilworks.org
  6. IN007 at Fossilworks.org
  7. Cañadón Jack, Yak-Harvey at Fossilworks.org
  8. Rio Acre at Fossilworks.org
  9. Boreostemma pliocena at Fossilworks.org
  10. Road to Tio Gregorio Locality at Fossilworks.org
  11. Boreostemma gigantea at Fossilworks.org
  12. Duke Locality 32 at Fossilworks.org
  13. Duke Locality 108 at Fossilworks.org
  14. Duke Locality 113 at Fossilworks.org
  15. Duke Locality 114 at Fossilworks.org
  16. Duke Locality 121W at Fossilworks.org
  17. Boreostemma acostae at Fossilworks.org
  18. Arcillas San Nicolas at Fossilworks.org
  19. Chunchullo Sandstone at Fossilworks.org
  20. Simpson, 1947, p.2
  21. Boreostemma venezolensis at Fossilworks.org
  22. Banks of the Güere River at Fossilworks.org

Bibliography