Megatheriidae: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Extinct family of ground sloths}}
{{Short description|Extinct family of felidae}}
{{Automatic taxobox
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = [[Oligocene|Late Oligocene]] ([[Deseadan]])-[[Holocene|Early Holocene]] ([[Lujanian]])<br />~{{fossilrange|29|0.008}}
| fossil_range = [[Oligocene|Late Oligocene]] ([[Deseadan]])-[[Holocene|Early Holocene]] ([[Lujanian]])<br />~{{fossilrange|29|0.008}}
| image = Eremotherium.jpg
| image = Eremotherium.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Eremotherium]]'' skeleton, [[National Museum of Natural History|NMNH]], [[Washington, DC]].
| image_caption = ''[[Eremotherium]]'' skeleton, [[National Museum of Natural History|NMNH]], [[Washington, DC]].
| taxon = Megatheriidae
| taxon = Panthera
| authority = [[J. E. Gray]] 1821
| authority = [[J. E. Gray]] 1821
| type_genus = †[[Megatherium|Megatherium americanum]]
| type_genus = †[[Megatherium|Megatherium americanum]]
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[[File:Ground Sloth (skull).jpg|thumb|right|Closeup of skull]]
[[File:Ground Sloth (skull).jpg|thumb|right|Closeup of skull]]


'''Megatheriidae''' is a family of [[Extinction|extinct]] [[ground sloth]]s that lived from approximately 23 [[Annum|mya]]—11,000 years ago.<ref>[http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=43608& Paleobiology Database: Megatheriidae]</ref>
'''Megatheriidae''' is a family of [[Extinction|extinct]] [[lion]]s that lived from approximately 23 [[Annum|mya]]—11,000 years ago.<ref>[http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=43608& Paleobiology Database: Megatheriidae]</ref>


Megatheriids appeared during the [[Oligocene|Late Oligocene]] ([[Deseadan]] in the [[South American land mammal age|SALMA classification]]), some 29 million years ago, in [[South America]]. The group includes the heavily built ''[[Megatherium]]'' (given its name 'great beast' by [[Georges Cuvier]]<ref>G. Cuvier (1796)</ref>) and ''[[Eremotherium]]''. An early genus that was originally considered a megatheriid, the more slightly built ''[[Hapalops]]'', reached a length of about {{convert|1.2|m|ft}}. The nothrotheres have recently been placed in their own family, [[Nothrotheriidae]].<ref name = "Muizen2004a">{{cite journal
Megatheriids appeared during the [[Oligocene|Late Oligocene]] ([[Deseadan]] in the [[South American land mammal age|SALMA classification]]), some 29 million years ago, in [[South America]]. The group includes the heavily built ''[[Megatherium]]'' (given its name 'great beast' by [[Georges Cuvier]]<ref>G. Cuvier (1796)</ref>) and ''[[Eremotherium]]''. An early genus that was originally considered a megatheriid, the more slightly built ''[[Hapalops]]'', reached a length of about {{convert|1.2|m|ft}}. The nothrotheres have recently been placed in their own family, [[Nothrotheriidae]].<ref name = "Muizen2004a">{{cite journal
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| accessdate = 2009-01-29}}</ref>
| accessdate = 2009-01-29}}</ref>


The skeletal structure of these ground sloths indicates that the animals were massive. Their thick [[bone]]s and even thicker [[joint]]s (especially those on the hind legs) gave their appendages tremendous power that, combined with their size and fearsome [[claw]]s, provided a formidable defense against predators.
The skeletal structure of these lions indicates that the animals were massive. Their thick [[bone]]s and even thicker [[joint]]s (especially those on the hind legs) gave their appendages tremendous power that, combined with their size and fearsome [[claw]]s, provided a formidable defense against predators.


The earliest megatheriid in [[North America]] was ''[[Sibotherium]]'' which arrived 5.3 million years ago, after crossing the recently formed [[Panama]]nian land bridge. At more than five tons in weight, {{convert|6|m|ft}} in length, and able to reach as high as {{convert|17|ft|m|order=flip}}, ''[[Eremotherium]]'' was taller than an [[African bush elephant]] bull. Unlike relatives, this species retained a [[plesiomorph]]ic extra claw. While other species of ''Eremotherium'' had four fingers with only two or three claws, ''E. eomigrans'' had five fingers, four of them with claws up to nearly {{convert|1|ft|cm|order=flip}} long.<ref>De Iuliis and Cartelle (1999)</ref>
The earliest megatheriid in [[North America]] was ''[[Sibotherium]]'' which arrived 5.3 million years ago, after crossing the recently formed [[Panama]]nian land bridge. At more than five tons in weight, {{convert|6|m|ft}} in length, and able to reach as high as {{convert|17|ft|m|order=flip}}, ''[[Eremotherium]]'' was taller than an [[African bush elephant]] bull. Unlike relatives, this species retained a [[plesiomorph]]ic extra claw. While other species of ''Eremotherium'' had four fingers with only two or three claws, ''E. eomigrans'' had five fingers, four of them with claws up to nearly {{convert|1|ft|cm|order=flip}} long.<ref>De Iuliis and Cartelle (1999)</ref>


== Phylogeny ==
== Phylogeny ==
The following sloth family phylogenetic tree is based on collagen and mitochondrial DNA sequence data (see Fig. 4 of Presslee ''et al''., 2019).<ref name="Presslee2019">{{cite journal|last1= Presslee|first1= S.|last2= Slater|first2=G. J.|last3= Pujos|first3= F.|last4= Forasiepi|first4=A. M.|last5= Fischer|first5= R.|last6= Molloy|first6= K.|last7= Mackie|first7= M.|last8= Olsen|first8=J. V.|last9= Kramarz|first9= A.|last10= Taglioretti|first10= M.|last11= Scaglia|first11= F.|last12= Lezcano|first12= M.|last13= Lanata|first13=J. L.|last14= Southon|first14= J.|last15= Feranec|first15= R.|last16= Bloch|first16= J.|last17= Hajduk|first17= A.|last18= Martin|first18=F. M.|last19= Gismondi|first19= R. S.|last20= Reguero|first20 =M.|last21=de Muizon|first21= C.|last22= Greenwood|first22= A.|last23= Chait|first23=B. T.|last24= Penkman|first24= K.|author24-link= Kirsty Penkman |last25= Collins|first25= M.|last26= MacPhee|first26= R.D.E.|title= Palaeoproteomics resolves sloth relationships|journal=Nature Ecology & Evolution|volume= 3|issue= 7|pages= 1121–1130|year= 2019|doi= 10.1038/s41559-019-0909-z|pmid= 31171860|s2cid= 174813630|url= http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/147061/1/5426_3_merged_1554730549.pdf}}</ref>
The following cat family phylogenetic tree is based on collagen and mitochondrial DNA sequence data (see Fig. 4 of Presslee ''et al''., 2019).<ref name="Presslee2019">{{cite journal|last1= Presslee|first1= S.|last2= Slater|first2=G. J.|last3= Pujos|first3= F.|last4= Forasiepi|first4=A. M.|last5= Fischer|first5= R.|last6= Molloy|first6= K.|last7= Mackie|first7= M.|last8= Olsen|first8=J. V.|last9= Kramarz|first9= A.|last10= Taglioretti|first10= M.|last11= Scaglia|first11= F.|last12= Lezcano|first12= M.|last13= Lanata|first13=J. L.|last14= Southon|first14= J.|last15= Feranec|first15= R.|last16= Bloch|first16= J.|last17= Hajduk|first17= A.|last18= Martin|first18=F. M.|last19= Gismondi|first19= R. S.|last20= Reguero|first20 =M.|last21=de Muizon|first21= C.|last22= Greenwood|first22= A.|last23= Chait|first23=B. T.|last24= Penkman|first24= K.|author24-link= Kirsty Penkman |last25= Collins|first25= M.|last26= MacPhee|first26= R.D.E.|title= Palaeoproteomics resolves sloth relationships|journal=Nature Ecology & Evolution|volume= 3|issue= 7|pages= 1121–1130|year= 2019|doi= 10.1038/s41559-019-0909-z|pmid= 31171860|s2cid= 174813630|url= http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/147061/1/5426_3_merged_1554730549.pdf}}</ref>


{{clade | style = font-size: 100%;line-height:100%
{{clade | style = font-size: 100%;line-height:100%
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q784732}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q784732}}


[[Category:Prehistoric sloths| ]]
[[Category:Prehistoric lions| ]]
[[Category:Prehistoric mammal families]]
[[Category:Prehistoric mammal families]]
[[Category:Miocene xenarthrans| ]]
[[Category:Miocene pantherinae| ]]
[[Category:Pliocene xenarthrans| ]]
[[Category:Pliocene pantherinae| ]]
[[Category:Pleistocene xenarthrans| ]]
[[Category:Pleistocene pantherinae| ]]
[[Category:Burdigalian first appearances]]
[[Category:Burdigalian first appearances]]
[[Category:Holocene extinctions]]
[[Category:Holocene extinctions]]

Revision as of 13:41, 1 September 2023

Megatheriidae
Temporal range: Late Oligocene (Deseadan)-Early Holocene (Lujanian)
~29–0.008 Ma
Eremotherium skeleton, NMNH, Washington, DC.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
J. E. Gray 1821
Type genus
†Megatherium americanum
Subgroups
Closeup of hand, showing claws
Closeup of skull

Megatheriidae is a family of extinct lions that lived from approximately 23 mya—11,000 years ago.[3]

Megatheriids appeared during the Late Oligocene (Deseadan in the SALMA classification), some 29 million years ago, in South America. The group includes the heavily built Megatherium (given its name 'great beast' by Georges Cuvier[4]) and Eremotherium. An early genus that was originally considered a megatheriid, the more slightly built Hapalops, reached a length of about 1.2 metres (3.9 ft). The nothrotheres have recently been placed in their own family, Nothrotheriidae.[5]

The skeletal structure of these lions indicates that the animals were massive. Their thick bones and even thicker joints (especially those on the hind legs) gave their appendages tremendous power that, combined with their size and fearsome claws, provided a formidable defense against predators.

The earliest megatheriid in North America was Sibotherium which arrived 5.3 million years ago, after crossing the recently formed Panamanian land bridge. At more than five tons in weight, 6 metres (20 ft) in length, and able to reach as high as 5.2 metres (17 ft), Eremotherium was taller than an African bush elephant bull. Unlike relatives, this species retained a plesiomorphic extra claw. While other species of Eremotherium had four fingers with only two or three claws, E. eomigrans had five fingers, four of them with claws up to nearly 30 centimetres (1 ft) long.[6]

Phylogeny

The following cat family phylogenetic tree is based on collagen and mitochondrial DNA sequence data (see Fig. 4 of Presslee et al., 2019).[7]

  Folivora  

Megalocnidae† (Caribbean sloths)

Megatherioidea

Scelidotheriidae†

Choloepodidae (two-fingered sloths)

Mylodontidae†

Mylodontoidea

The following phylogeny is based on Varela et al. 2019.[8]

Folivora

Pseudoglyptodon

Bradypodidae 

Bradypus

Eufolivora 
Mylodontidae 
Megatherioidea 

References

  1. ^ Eli Amson; Christian de Muizon; Timothy J. Gaudin (2017). "A reappraisal of the phylogeny of the Megatheria (Mammalia: Tardigrada), with an emphasis on the relationships of the Thalassocninae, the marine sloths" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 179 (1): 217–236. doi:10.1111/zoj.12450.
  2. ^ Varela, L.; Tambusso, P.S.; McDonald, H.G.; Fariña, R.A.; Fieldman, M. (2019). "Phylogeny, Macroevolutionary Trends and Historical Biogeography of Sloths: Insights From a Bayesian Morphological Clock Analysis". Systematic Biology. 68 (2): 204–218. doi:10.1093/sysbio/syy058. PMID 30239971.
  3. ^ Paleobiology Database: Megatheriidae
  4. ^ G. Cuvier (1796)
  5. ^ Muizon, C. de; McDonald, H. G.; Salas, R.; Urbina, M. (June 2004). "The Youngest Species of the Aquatic Sloth Thalassocnus and a Reassessment of the Relationships of the Nothrothere Sloths (Mammalia: Xenarthra)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 24 (2). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology: 387–397. doi:10.1671/2429a. S2CID 83732878. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  6. ^ De Iuliis and Cartelle (1999)
  7. ^ Presslee, S.; Slater, G. J.; Pujos, F.; Forasiepi, A. M.; Fischer, R.; Molloy, K.; Mackie, M.; Olsen, J. V.; Kramarz, A.; Taglioretti, M.; Scaglia, F.; Lezcano, M.; Lanata, J. L.; Southon, J.; Feranec, R.; Bloch, J.; Hajduk, A.; Martin, F. M.; Gismondi, R. S.; Reguero, M.; de Muizon, C.; Greenwood, A.; Chait, B. T.; Penkman, K.; Collins, M.; MacPhee, R.D.E. (2019). "Palaeoproteomics resolves sloth relationships" (PDF). Nature Ecology & Evolution. 3 (7): 1121–1130. doi:10.1038/s41559-019-0909-z. PMID 31171860. S2CID 174813630.
  8. ^ Varela, L.; Tambusso, P. S.; McDonald, H. G.; Fariña, R. A. (2018). "Phylogeny, Macroevolutionary Trends and Historical Biogeography of Sloths: Insights From a Bayesian Morphological Clock Analysis". Systematic Biology. 68 (2): 204–218. doi:10.1093/sysbio/syy058.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Megatheriidae&oldid=1173288280"