Holmesina

Holmesina Temporal range: Pleistocene, 2.6–0.012 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Fossil skeleton of H. septentrionalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Synapsida
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Cingulata
Family:	†Pampatheriidae
Genus:	†Holmesina Simpson, 1930
Species
†H. septentrionalis †H. floridanus †H. occidentalis †H. paulacoutoi †H. major †H. rondoniensis

Holmesina is a genus of pampathere, an extinct group of armadillo-like creatures that were distantly related to extant armadillos. Like armadillos, and unlike the other extinct branch of megafaunal cingulates, the glyptodonts, the shell was made up of flexible plates which allowed the animal to move more easily. Holmesina species were herbivores that grazed on coarse vegetation; armadillos are mostly insectivorous or omnivorous.^[1]

Holmesina occidentalis

Holmesina individuals were much larger than any modern armadillo: They could reach a length of 2 m, and a weight of 227 kg (500 lbs), while the modern giant armadillo does not attain more than 54 kg (119 lbs).^[2]

They travelled north in the faunal interchange, and adapted well to North America, like the ground sloths, glyptodonts, armadillos, capybaras, and other South American immigrants. Their fossils are found from Brazil to the United States,^[3] mostly in Texas and Florida.

References

1. Vizcaíno, S. F.; De Iuliis, G.; Bargo, M. S. (1998). "Skull Shape, Masticatory Apparatus, and Diet of Vassallia and Holmesina (Mammalia: Xenarthra: Pampatheriidae): When Anatomy Constrains Destiny". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 5 (4): 291–322. doi:10.1023/A:1020500127041. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
2. http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CenozoicLife/conversations/topics/149
3. "Holmesina Simpson 1930". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 2014-09-09.