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Abstract
ABSTRACT—The comparative description of the most complete specimen of Dasypus punctatus (Xenarthra, Cingulata), from southeastern Brazil, reveals that the species differs from other Dasypodini by the numerous foramina it has in both buckler and movable osteoderms, providing the basis for the lectotype designation. This species was historically allocated to Propraopus, but the inclusiveness and monophyly of that genus are uncertain. A new phylogenetic analysis groups D. punctatus with the living species of Dasypus in a monophyletic clade for the genus, also supporting a Propraopus clade composed of P. sulcatus and the type species P. grandis. The palatal anatomy corroborates previously suggested affinities between D. kappleri and D. punctatus. On the contrary, the possible synonymy between P. grandis and P. sulcatus needs further investigation, given that they differed on a single character. As usual in cingulate systematics, characters related to osteoderm ornamentation proved essential to determine the relationships of taxa. However, their use requires careful sampling in order to account for intraspecific variation biases.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are grateful to K. L. Hansen (ZMK) for helpful information and photos of the lectotype; to S. A. K. de Azevedo and D. Henriques (MNRJ), M. de Vivo (MZUSP), A. Kramarz (MACN), and A. I. Olivares, D. Verzi, and M. Reguero (MLP) for allowing the study of material under their care; to S. Hirooka and E. M. Silva (CC) for photos of the Rosário do Oeste specimens; to L. R. González (MLP) for sharing photos of Stegotherium, and to C. A. Norris (YPM-PU) for authorizing it; and to the Willi Hennig Society for making TNT software freely available. We also thank A. A. Carlini, the reviewers (É. V. Oliveira and T. J. Gaudin), and the editor (T. Martin) for constructive suggestions on the manuscript. FAPESP (Proc. 07/52970-2) and CAPES (Proc. BEX 0840/10-6) grants to M. C. Castro supported this research.
Handling editor: Thomas Martin