Nothrotherium maquinense, Ahytherium aureum and Australonyx aquae are ground sloths endemic of the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Intertropical Region for which, as opposed to other xenarthrans such as megatheriid sloths and glyptodonts, no information regarding pathological conditions is available. Herein, we describe, based on an anatomopathological examination, four types of lesions for N. maquinense (spondyloarthropathy, Schmorl's node, vertebral trauma and unspecific infection) and one lesion for A. aureum (osteochondritis dissecans). No lesions were observed in A. aquae. Although several different diseases have been diagnosed, considering the significant number of specimens (2,232) and individuals (41) analyzed, low prevalence marks them all.
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1 June 2017
Elucidating Bone Diseases in Brazilian Pleistocene Sloths (Xenarthra, Pilosa, Folivora): First Cases Reported for the Nothrotheriidae and Megalonychidae Families
Fernando H. De S. Barbosa,
Kleberson De O. Porpino,
Lilian P. Bergqvist,
Bruce M. Rothschild
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Ameghiniana
Vol. 54 • No. 3
June 2017
Vol. 54 • No. 3
June 2017
Brazilian Intertropical Region
diseases
Enfermedades
Late Pleistocene
perezosos
Pleistoceno tardío
Región Intertropical Brasileña