A reassessment of the taxonomic status of Paraglyptodon Castellanos, 1932 (Mammalia, Cingulata, Glyptodontia)

CRUZ, L. E.; FERNICOLA, J. C.; TAGLIORETTI, M.; TOLEDO, N.

JOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 66 p. 32 - 40

0895-9811

Castellanos described and published about new genera of glyptodonts,according to a phylogenetic scheme mainly based on the evolution of theexternal surface of the dorsal carapace. Among these new genera, Castellanosproposed Paraglyptodon as the predecessor of Glyptodon, and included within Paraglyptodonall known species of Glyptodontinae recovered from ?horizontes pre-Ensenadenses?,and within Glyptodon all known species from ?Horizontes pampeanos?, restrictingthe latter to the Quaternary. All the species that belong to Paraglyptodon,that is Paraglyptodon chapalmalensis, Paraglyptodon uquiensis, Paraglyptodondubius, and Paraglyptodon paranensis were established based on one, two or few osteoderms,mostly from the dorsal carapace. Regarding P. paranensis and P. dubius, Olivaand collaborators consider the first as a nomen vanum, representing anindeterminate Glyptodontinae, and the second as a synonym of P. chapalmalensis.Upon re-examination of the holotypes of P. chapalmalensis and P. uquiensis togetherwith their comparison with other well-known specimens of glyptodonts, mainly withGlyptodon (of both juvenile and adult stages), we found the same ornamentationin different sections of the dorsal carapaces, particularly in P.chapalmalensis and in juvenile stages of Glyptodon spp.We could not identifyfeatures that would allow us to make a distinction between the holotype of P. uquiensis and Glyptodon spp. Therefore, we consider that a new taxon guide fornaming the Upper Chapadmalalan biozone is necessary. The biostratigraphic rangeof Glyptodon could possibly be extended to the late Pliocene. However, newrecords and studies are needed to verify the existence of this taxon in the ChapadmalalanStage/Age in its type locality.