Proschismotherium
Extinct genus of ground sloth
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Proschismotherium is an extinct genus of ground sloth of the family Megalonychidae, endemic to Argentina during the Early Miocene. It lived from 17.5 mya — 16.3 mya, existing (as a genus) for approximately 1.2 million years.[1] The type, and only, species, P. oppositum, was named in 1902 by Florentino Ameghino based on a single specimen found in the Santacrucian-aged Colpodon Beds of Argentina.[2] Ameghino in 1902 placed Proschismotherium in the Megatheriidae,[2] alongside Hapaloides, which was its sister taxon.[1][3][4][5]
| Proschismotherium Temporal range: Early Miocene, Santacrucian | |
|---|---|
| |
| Holotype jaw | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Placentalia |
| Order: | Pilosa |
| Suborder: | Folivora |
| Family: | †Megalonychidae |
| Genus: | †Proschismotherium Ameghino, 1902 |
| Species: | †P. oppositum |
| Binomial name | |
| †Proschismotherium oppositum Ameghino, 1902 | |
The holotype jaw was compared to that of Schismotherium fractum and was found to be roughly the same size,[2] indicating that Proschismotherium weighed roughly 45 kilograms (99 lb) and grew up to 1 metre (3.3 ft);[6] the size estimate was loosely based on Hapalops and also Schismotherium.[7]