Estudo de Eremotherium laurillardi para o Quaternário da Bahia, Brasil: novos registros e distribuição geográfica

Abstract

The focus of this study is Megatheriidae Family of the Xenarthra Superorder, which is represented by glyptodonts, armadillos, anteaters and giant sloths, which were large terrestrial animals, related to the present arboreal sloths. The Megatheriidae consists of the largest pleistocene sloths, which in their adult phase could reach a mass of approximately 5 tons. The genus Eremotherium that will be herein described is considered the most primitive among megaterids. In the Northeast of Brazil, the genus Eremotherium is widely represented in almost all states, except for the state of Maranhão, these records are distributed in natural tank deposits and caves, which are quite common in the northeast region. The objective of this work is to describe the occurrence of Eremotherium laurillardi in different municipalities from Bahia state, in localities of Lagoa Escura, Várzea Funda, Vargem Grande for the Santaluz municipality; Lagoa das Abelhas and Lagoa do Rancho, for Guanambi municipality; Sítio outcrop for the Quijingue municipality, and two unnamed areas for the Matina and João Dourado municipalities. In addition, a general survey of the distribution of this species during the Quaternary in the Northeast Region of Brazil is presented.