Biology:Xibalbaonyx
Xibalbaonyx is an extinct genus of megalonychid ground sloth known from the Late Pleistocene of Mexico. Three species are recognized: X. oviceps and X. exiniferis from the Yucatán Peninsula and X. microcaninus from Jalisco. The genus name derives from Xibalba, the underworld in Maya mythology.
Discovery and taxonomy
The holotype of X. oviceps consists of a mostly complete skeleton discovered in an underwater cave system,[1] whereas X. microcaninus is known from a complete skull and mandible recovered from sediments deposited by the ancient Lake Jalisco.[2] The overlapping cranial and mandibular remains exhibit notable morphological differences, sufficient to support their recognition as distinct species. A third species, X. exiniferis, was described in 2020 from an underwater cave in the Yucatán Peninsula, it is known from a fragmentary left mandibular ramus, an atlas, and a left humerus.[3] In 2020, the postcranial remains of the X. oviceps holotype were described[4] The following year, remains of a form closely related to Xibalbaonyx were reported from Pleistocene deposits in Cueva de Iglesitas near Caracas, Venezuela.[5]
Description
Xibalbaonyx oviceps was approximately 2 meters (6.6 ft) long and weighed around 200 kilograms (440 lb),[4] with a similar body mass estimated for X. exiniferis.[3] Its robust forelimbs were likely supported by well-developed musculature and possessed a broad range of movement. These features have been interpreted as adaptations for climbing, comparable to the abilities of similarly sized American black bears.[4]
References
- ↑ Stinnesbeck, Sarah R.; Frey, Eberhard; Olguín, Jerónimo Avíles; Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang; Zell, Patrick; Mallison, Heinrich; González González, Arturo; Aceves Núñez, Eugenio et al. (2017). "Xibalbaonyx oviceps, a new megalonychid ground sloth (Folivora, Xenarthra) from the Late Pleistocene of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, and its paleobiogeographic significance". PalZ 91 (2): 245–271. doi:10.1007/s12542-017-0349-5. ISSN 0031-0220. Bibcode: 2017PalZ...91..245S.
- ↑ Stinnesbeck, Sarah R.; Frey, Eberhard; Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang (2018). "New insights on the paleogeographic distribution of the Late Pleistocene ground sloth genus Xibalbaonyx along the Mesoamerican Corridor". Journal of South American Earth Sciences 85: 108–120. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2018.05.004. ISSN 0895-9811. Bibcode: 2018JSAES..85..108S.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Stinnesbeck, Sarah R.; Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang; Frey, Eberhard; Avilés Olguín, Jerónimo; González, Arturo González (2020-05-12). "Xibalbaonyx exinferis n. sp. (Megalonychidae), a new Pleistocene ground sloth from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico" (in en). Historical Biology 33 (10): 1952–1963. doi:10.1080/08912963.2020.1754817. ISSN 0891-2963. Bibcode: 2021HBio...33.1952S. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2020.1754817.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Stinnesbeck, Sarah R.; Frey, Eberhard; Avilés Olguín, Jerónimo; González, Arturo González; Velázquez Morlet, Adriana; Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang (2020-09-21). "Life and death of the ground sloth Xibalbaonyx oviceps from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico" (in en). Historical Biology 33 (11): 2610–2626. doi:10.1080/08912963.2020.1819998. ISSN 0891-2963. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2020.1819998.
- ↑ Rincón, Ascanio D.; Lemoine, Luis A.; McDonald, H. Gregory (2021-10-01). "A new addition to Pleistocene megalonychid sloth diversity in the northern Neotropics" (in en). Journal of South American Earth Sciences 110. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2021.103379. ISSN 0895-9811. Bibcode: 2021JSAES.11003379R. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0895981121002261.
Template:Pilosan genera Wikidata ☰ Q55074742 entry
 |  |
