Orthoarthrus ("upright joint") is an extinct species of mammal of unknown affinities that lived in Argentina during the Miocene. It was described by prolific Argentine paleontologist Florentino Ameghino in 1904 on the basis of a single left astragalus (under specimen number MLP 69-IX-5-16,)[1] that had been unearthed from the Santacrucian sediments of Santa Cruz, Argentina. Ameghino described it as a species of pangolin closely related to African species of the group,[2] but this came into question by later 20th-century paleontologists, who concluded that it was an indeterminate genus of mammal.[3][4] The size of the astragalus and its anatomy was described briefly, with a diameter of 30 millimetres (1.2 in) and a distinct furrowed morphology on its ventral face.[2] The species name mixtus ("mixed") is after the anatomy of the astragalus' rugged bottom surface.[5]
| Orthoarthrus mixtus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
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| Genus: | †Orthoarthrus Ameghino, 1904
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| Species: | †O. mixtus
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| Binomial name | |
| †Orthoarthrus mixtus Ameghino, 1904
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References
edit- ^ "Fossilworks: Orthoarthrus mixtus". www.fossilworks.org. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
- ^ a b Ameghino, Florentino (1904). "Nuevas especies de mamíferos, cretáceos y terciarios de la República Argentina". Anales de la Sociedad Cientifica Argentina. 56–58: 1–142.
- ^ Vizcaíno, S. F., & Bargo, M. S. (2014). Loss of ancient diversity of xenarthrans and the value of protecting extant armadillos, sloths and anteaters. Edentata, 15(2014), 27–38.
- ^ Mones, A. (1986). Palaeovertebrata Sudamericana.-Catálogo Sistemático de los Vertebrados Fósiles de America-del Sur-Parte I. Lista Preliminar y Bibliografía.
- ^ Sharpe, D. (Ed.). (1912). Index Zoologicus No. II.: An Alphabetical List of Names of Genera and Subgenera Proposed for Use in Zoology as Recorded in the" Zoological Record," Vols. 38-47 Inclusive (1901-1910) and the Zoology Volumes of the" International Catalogue of Scientific Literature" Annual Issues 1-10, Together with Other Names Not Included in Previous Nomenclators (No. 2). Society.