Protamandua is an extinct genus of anteaters. Its closest living relatives are the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and tamanduas (genus Tamandua). Fossils of Protamandua are restricted to the Santa Cruz Formation of Argentina.[1] It may have been a common ancestor of Myrmecophaga and Tamandua.[2]

Protamandua
Temporal range: Early-Mid Miocene (Santacrucian-Mayoan)
~17.5–11.6 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pilosa
Family: Myrmecophagidae
Genus: Protamandua
Ameghino 1904

References edit

  1. ^ "Protamandua". Paleontology Database. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  2. ^ Hirschfeld, S.E. (1976). "A New Fossil Anteater (Edentata, Mammalia) from Colombia and Evolution of the Vermilingua". Journal of Paleontology. 50 (3): 419–432. JSTOR 1303522. Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2012-07-23.