ON THE TAXONOMIC STATUS OF SOME GLYPTODONTIDAE (MAMMALIA, CINGULATA) FROM THE PLEISTOCENE OF SOUTH AMERICA

ZURITA, A. E; OLIVEIRA, E.V.; TORIÑO, P.; RODRIGUEZ-BUALÓ, S.; SCILLATO-YANÉ, G. J.; LUNA, C.; KRAPOVIKCAS, J.

San Juan

Congreso; IV Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontología de Vertebrados; 2011

The anatomical and taxonomic knowledge of some groups of Glyptodontidae Gray 1869 is still very poor. In addition, a strict typological/morphological taxonomic criterion was used in recognizing many taxa, especially during the second half of the 19th century and the first of the 20th century. This particular situation resulted in a clear overestimation of diversity, mainly with respect to the South American glyptodonts. In this scenario, the aim of this contribution is to analyze the taxonomic status of some Glyptodontinae Gray 1869 through a precise comparative study with well characterized taxa. The main results show that Pseudothoracophorus Castellanos 1951 (P. depressus Ameghino 1881) and Chlamydotherium Bronn 1838, one species of “Boreostracon” Simpson 1929 (B. corondanus Castellanos 1958), and one species of Glyptodon Owen 1839 (G. falkneri Ameghino 1889), actually represent juvenile specimens referable to Glyptodon; in the same way, Neothoracophorus Ameghino 1889 (N. elevatus Nodot 1857) could be related either to Glyptodon or Glyptotherium Osborn 1903. Another species, Heteroglyptodon genuarioi Roselli 1976 presents an almost identical morphology compared with the recognized species of Glyptodon (eg. G. munizi Ameghino 1881). In this sense, the diagnostic characters described for Glyptodon perforatus Ameghino 1889, a taxon with biostratigraphic relevance since it is characteristic of the Lujanian Age/Stage (late Pleistocene-early Holocene), are also present in other species of Glyptodon, especially G. reticulatus and G. clavipes Owen 1839, two very frequent taxa in southern South America.