Euphractinae is an armadillo subfamily in the family
Chlamyphoridae
Chlamyphoridae is a family of cingulate mammals. While glyptodonts have traditionally been considered stem-group cingulates outside the group that contains modern armadillos, there had been speculation that the extant family Dasypodidae could b ...
.
Euphractinae are known for having a well developed osteoderm that has large cavities filled with adipose tissue, and more hair follicles with well developed sebaceous glands in comparison to the Dasypodidae sub family. These are believed to be evolutionary adaptations in the Euphractinae to support it in the cooler climate that it usually lives in.
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Taxonomy
It contains the following genera:
*''
Chaetophractus'', hairy armadillos
*''
Euphractus
The six-banded armadillo (''Euphractus sexcinctus''), also known as the yellow armadillo, is an armadillo found in South America. The sole extant member of its genus, it was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The six- ...
'', six-banded armadillos
*''
Zaedyus
The pichi (''Zaedyus pichiy''), dwarf armadillo or pygmy armadillo is an armadillo native to Argentina. It is the only living member of the genus ''Zaedyus'', and the only armadillo to hibernate.
Description
Pichis are relatively small armadi ...
'', pichis
Extinct genera include:
* ''
Paleuphractus''
* ''
Doellotatus''
* ''
Proeuphractus
''Proeuphractus'' is an extinct genus of xenarthran, related to the modern armadillos. It lived from the Early to the Late Miocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America.
Description
This animal was quite similar to the ...
''
* ''
Macroeuphractus
''Macroeuphractus'' is a genus of extinct armadillos from the Late Miocene to Late Pliocene of South America. The genus is noted for its large size, with ''Macroeuphractus outesi'' being the largest non- pampathere or glyptodont armadillo disc ...
''
Phylogeny
A
mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is the DNA located in mitochondria, cellular organelles within eukaryotic cells that convert chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial D ...
investigation has concluded that Euphractinae is the
sister group
In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree.
Definition
The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram:
Taxon A and t ...
of a clade consisting of
Chlamyphorinae
Chlamyphorinae is a subfamily of South American armadillos in the family Chlamyphoridae. Members of this subfamily, the fairy armadillos, are largely fossorial and have reduced eyes and robust forearms with large claws for digging.
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Ta ...
(fairy armadillos) and
Tolypeutinae
Tolypeutinae is a subfamily of armadillos in the family Chlamyphoridae, consisting of the giant, three-banded and naked-tailed armadillos.
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Taxonomy
It contains the following genera:
*''Cabassous''
*''Kuntinaru''
*''Priodontes''
*''To ...
(giant, three-banded and naked-tailed armadillos)
along with extinct
glyptodont
Glyptodonts are an extinct subfamily of large, heavily armoured armadillos. They arose in South America around 48 million years ago and spread to southern North America after the continents became connected several million years ago. The best-kn ...
s,
as shown below.
References
Armadillos
Mammal subfamilies
Eocene xenarthrans
Oligocene xenarthrans
Miocene xenarthrans
Pliocene xenarthrans
Pleistocene xenarthrans
Extant Eocene first appearances
Taxa named by Herluf Winge
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