Contribution à La Connaissance Des Tardigrades (mammalia : Xenarthra) Du Pléistocène Péruvien
Resumen del Libro
New Tardigrada specimens have been discovered in Pleistocene deposits of Peru. Megatheriidae are extremely diversified and two new Megatherium species were described in detail. A megatheriine phylogenetic analysis has been performed on the basis of 35 cranial and postcranial characters. A new peculiar sloth is also reported. This Megalonychidae shows a mosaic of characters that is unusual to find associated a single in sloth species and could be related to arboreal habits. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis of Megatherioidea based on 34 cranial and postcranial characters was performed. Stratigraphical and paleoenvironmental studies were performed in three mammal bearing Pleistocene sites. Strong modifications of the climate and the indirect intervention of man may have played an important role in the extinction of these mammals
