| Pampatheres Fossil range: Oligocene–Pleistocene |
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| Holmesina occidentalis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Superorder: | Xenarthra |
| Order: | Cingulata |
| Family: | †Pampatheriidae Paula Couto, 1954 |
| Genera | |
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Pampatheridae ("Pampas beasts") is an ancient family, now extinct, of large armadillo-like plantigrade armored xenarthrans. They are related to Glyptodontidae, an extinct family of much larger and more heavily armored xenarthrans, as well as to extant armadillos (Dasypodidae). Pampatheres evolved in South America during its long period of Cenozoic isolation. Holmesina spread to North America after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama as part of the Great American Interchange. They finally disappeared on both continents in the end-Pleistocene extinctions.
References
- Paleodatabase
- Encyclopedia of the Prehistoric World, By Douglas Palmer
External links
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