Promegatherium

Promegatherium
Promegatherium nanum and Nesodon
Conservation status
Template:StatusPrehistoric
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Xenarthra
Family:	Megatheriidae
Genus:	Promegatherium Ameghino, 1887
Species
Promegatherium cabreri Promegatherium nanum Promegatherium parvulum Promegatherium remulsum Promegatherium smaltatum

Promegatherium ("Before Megatherium") is an genus of prehistoric mammal that lived in South America during the Upper and Middle Miocene. It belonged to the family of giant sloths (Megatheriidae). It was named by the biologist Florentino Ameghino in 1887. Its known species are Promegatherium cabreri, P. nanum, P. parvulum, P. remulsum, and P. smaltatum. P. nanum was originally placed in the genus "Eomegatherium" before it was grouped together in Promegatherium.

References

• List of prehistoric species
• Family tree of Megatheriidae
• M. C. McKenna & S. K. Bell (eds.) (1997): Classification of mammals, above the species level. New York: Columbia University Press.