Nothropus is an extinct genus of ground sloth of the family Nothrotheriidae, endemic to South America during the Pleistocene epoch. It lived from 0.781 mya—12,000 years ago existing for approximately 0.769 million years. It was believed to be a ground-dwelling herbivore.[1]
| Nothropus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Pilosa |
| Family: | †Nothrotheriidae |
| Subfamily: | †Nothrotheriinae |
| Genus: | †Nothropus Burmeister (1882) |
| Type species | |
| †Nothropus priscus Burmeister, 1882
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| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy edit
Nothropus priscus and Nothropus nordenskioldi are described as subtaxa. Nothropus was named by Hermann Burmeister (1882). It was assigned to Megalonychidae by L. G. Marshall and T. Sempere (1991)[2] and to Nothrotheriidae by Christian de Muizon et al. (2004).[3]
Fossil distribution edit
Fossils have been uncovered from the Tarija Formation, Tarija Department, Bolivia, east side of the Andes Mountains.[4]
References edit
- ^ PaleoBiology Database: Nothropus, basic info
- ^ L. G. Marshall and T. Sempere. 1991. The Eocene to Pleistocene vertebrates of Bolivia and their stratigraphic context: a review. Fósiles y Facies de Bolivia - Vol. 1 Vertebrados (Revista Ténica de YPFB) 12(3-4):631-652
- ^ Muizon, C. de; McDonald, H. G.; Salas, R.; Urbina, M. (June 2004). "The Youngest Species of the Aquatic Sloth Thalassocnus and a Reassessment of the Relationships of the Nothrothere Sloths (Mammalia: Xenarthra)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 24 (2). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology: 387–397. Bibcode:2004JVPal..24..387D. doi:10.1671/2429a. S2CID 83732878. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ Paleobiology Database: Nothropus, collections.
- Classification of Mammals by Malcolm C. McKenna and Susan K. Bell
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