Eutatus
Extinct genus of mammals
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Eutatus is an extinct genus of large armadillos of the family Chlamyphoridae. It was endemic to South America from the Early Miocene to Late Pleistocene, living from 17.5 Ma-11,000 years ago, with possible survival into the early Holocene (~ 7,500 BP)[2] and existing for approximately 17.49 million years.[1]
| Eutatus | |
|---|---|
| Eutatus punctatus skeleton | |
| Eutatus punctatus armour | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Cingulata |
| Family: | Chlamyphoridae |
| Genus: | †Eutatus Gervais 1867 |
| Species[1] | |
Taxonomy
Eutatus was named by Gervais (1867). The type species is E. seguini. It was assigned to Dasypodidae by Carroll (1988).[3]
Fossil distribution
The fossil remains are confined to Argentina and have been found in the Santacrucian Santa Cruz Formation,[4] Ensenadan Miramar Formation,[5] and the Lujanian Luján Formation.[6]
Palaeobiology
The overall masticatory apparatus morphology of Eutatus suggests that it was adapted for browsing.[7] Based on carbon isotope ratios, however, it is thought to have been an herbivore that fed on grasses.[2]