New Cingulata (Mammalia, Xenarthra) from the Upper Lumbrera Formation (Bartonian, middle Eocene), Salta Province, Argentina

Abstract

We describe isolated remains of a Paleogene cingulate from El Simbolar locality, Upper Lumbrera Formation (Bartonian), southern Salta Province, northwestern Argentina. The material consists of numerous fixed, movable, and caudal sheath osteoderms. The specimen has large-sized osteoderms, with a lageniform main figure, as in Utaetus buccatus, U. laxus, U. argos, ?U. deustus, Punatherium catamarcensis, and the basal euphractin Archaeutatus. The combination of morphological characters, in addition to its large size, allows us to recognize a new species of “Utaetini” for the Paleogene of northwestern Argentina. This new species of ?Utaetus represents the oldest record of Euphractinae in this region, and strengthens the endemic condition of its Paleogene faunas. Keywords: Cingulata, osteoderms, El Simbolar, Paleogene, Salta, Argentina.