Abstract

BRANDONI, Diego. Description of the femur of Protomegalonyx Chasicoensis Scillato-yané (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Megalonychidae) from the Arroyo Chasicó Formation (Late Miocene): Systematic consideration on the sloths of Chasicóan Age. Ameghiniana [online]. 2009, vol.46, n.3, pp.513-521. ISSN 1851-8044.

The description of the femur of the sloth Protomegalonyx chasicoensis Scillato-Yané is based on a right complete femur (MMP M 478) from the Arroyo Chasicó Formation (late Miocene) in the Southwest of Buenos Aires Province. Protomegalonyx chasicoensis is characterized by smaller size than Protomegalonyx doellojuradoi Kraglievich and Protomegalonyx praecursor Kraglievich; fovea capitis within the femoral head; greater trochanter less developed; third trochanter slender and projected; as in P. doellojuradoi and P. praecursor, distal facets separated and epicondyles projected. The sloths present in the above mentioned unit are represented by five species: the Nothrotheriidae Xyophorus bondesioi Scillato-Yané and Chasicobradys intermedius Scillato-Yané, Carlini and Vizcaíno; Anisodontherium halmyronomum (Cabrera) (Megatheriidae, Megatheriinae); the Octomylodontinae Octomylodon robertoscagliai Scillato-Yané, and P. chasicoensis. Protomegalonyx Kraglievich and Octomylodon Ameghino are recorded from the "conglomerado osífero" (late Miocene) of Entre Ríos Province. Chasicobradys intermedius is very similar to Neohapalops rothi Kraglievich from the mentioned unit of Entre Ríos Province, and is probably its junior synonym. This suggests a closer relationship between the sloth faunas of the Arroyo Chasicó Formation and "conglomerado osífero" than has been noted previously.

Keywords : Protomegalonyx; Megalonychidae; Buenos Aires Province; Arroyo Chasicó Formation; Late Miocene.