MAMÍFEROS XENARTHRA (EDENTATA) DO QUATERNARIO DO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRASIL

Abstract

The Xenarthra fauna of this state includes the following taxa: Dasypodidae, Dasypodinae, Propraopus sp. cf. P. grandis; Pampatheriinae, Pampatherium sp., Holmesina sp.; Glyptodontidae, Neothoracophorus cf. N. elevatus, Glyptodon cf. G. reticulatus, G. clavipes, Glyptodon sp., Panochthus sp., Doedicurus sp.; Megalonychidae gen. et sp. ind.; Megatheriidae, Eremotheriurn sp.; Mylodontidae, Mylodon darwini, Glossotherium robustum, G. (Pseudolestodon) sp. and Lestodon armatus. The presence of Megatherium and Scelidotherium, although probable, needs confirmation. Despite the fauna being similar to those of the late Lujanian Age of Argentina and Uruguay, some interesting occurrences of genera from faunas with tropical affinities have been reported. These mammals and palaeoclimate data suggest a humid and cold climate (from temperate to subtropical conditions) for the late Quatemary of Rio Grande do Sul, different from the Buenos Aires Province (Argentina), where a semi-arid climate was prevalent.