First endoskeletal remains of Neuryurus (Xenarthra, Glyptodontidae), an emended diagnosis of the genus, and body mass estimations

ABSTRACT

Neuryurus is a Neogene–Quaternary glyptodont known heretofore only by dermal skeleton remains from Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. Herein, new material of Neuryurus is reported, including associated remains of carapace and endoskeletal bones, recorded from the Sopas Formation (late Pleistocene) of Uruguay. The material described here probably corresponds to an adult female associated with a neonate or an unborn individual. The studied endoskeletal bones allow us to extend the diagnosis of the genus, which shows morphological similarities to Panochthus, Neosclerocalyptus, and Hoplophorus. The body mass estimations obtained on the basis of the described material of Neuryurus suggest that it had a less robust constitution than other quaternary glyptodonts such as Glyptodon reticulatus, Panochthus tuberculatus, and Doedicurus clavicaudatus, for which estimates of more than 1,000 kg body mass were previously given.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank M. Castro, for giving us important bibliography; J. Ghizzoni, A. Zapata, V. Ghizzoni, and M. Texeira, for their collaboration in the tasks of rescue of the fossil remains; M. Ríos, for the contribution of photographs of comparative material; L. Salvarrey, for his comments on the estimation of body mass; A. Rinderknecht, for allowing us to study the material deposited in the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Montevideo; and A. Zurita and an anonymous reviewer, for improving substantially the early version of the manuscript. This work is contribution to project C229-348/CSIC/UdelaR, Uruguay.