NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Xenarthra

The superorder Xenarthra is a group of placental mammals (infraclass Eutheria), extant today only in the Americas. The origins of the order can be traced back as far as the early Tertiary (about 60 million years ago, or only a short time after the end of the dinosaur era). The presence of these animals in North America is explained by the Great American Interchange. Eutheria is a classification system nearly synonymous with Placentalia. ... For other uses, see Tertiary (disambiguation). ... The Mesozoic Era is one of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... The Great American Interchange was a very important paleozoogeographic event in which land and freshwater animal faunas migrated from Central America to South America and vice versa, as the volcanic Isthmus of Panama rose up from the sea floor and bridged the continents. ...

It includes the anteaters, sloths, and armadillos. In the past, these families were classified together with the pangolins and Aardvark as the order Edentata (meaning toothless, because the members do not have front incisor teeth or molars, or have poorly-developed molars). It was subsequently realized that Edentata was polyphyletic—that it contained unrelated families and was thus invalid by cladistic standards. Aardvarks and pangolins are now placed in individual orders, and the new order Xenarthra was erected to group the remaining families (which are all related). The name Xenarthra means "strange joints", and was chosen because their vertebral joints are unlike those of any other mammals. Because they lack characteristics believed to be present in the common ancestor of other known Eutherian mammals, morphological evidence suggests that the Xenarthra are outside the Epitheria, which contains all other known Eutherians today. Families Cyclopedidae Myrmecophagidae Anteaters are the four mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua commonly known for eating ants and termites. ... Families Megalonychidae Bradypodidae Sloths are medium-sized mammals that live in South America and Central America belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae, part of the order Pilosa. ... For other uses, see Armadillo (disambiguation). ... Species Manis culionensis Manis gigantea Manis temmincki Manis tricuspis Manis tetradactyla Manis crassicaudata Manis pentadactyla Manis javanica Pangolins (pÄƒnggÉ™-lÄn) or scaly anteaters are mammals in the Pholidota order. ... Binomial name Orycteropus afer (Pallas, 1766) The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a medium-sized mammal native to Africa. ... In biology, a taxon is polyphyletic if it is descended from more than one root form (in Greek poly = many and phyletic = racial). ... ... Greek clados = branch) or phylogenetic systematics is a branch of biology that determines the evolutionary relationships of living things based on derived similarities. ... A diagram of a thoracic vertebra. ... Eutheria is a taxon (specifically, an infraclass) nearly synonymous with Placentalia, containing the placental mammals and the nearest ancestors of placental mammals (which are known only from the fossil record). ... Epitherians comprise all the Eutherian Mammals except the Xenarthra. ...

The morphology of Xenarthrans generally suggests that the anteaters and sloths are closest together within Xenarthra. The order Xenarthra is more and more often divided into two orders: Pilosa, containing the Vermilingua and Folivora (previously Tardigrada), and the separate order Cingulata. Xenarthra now has the rank of cohort or super-order. The Xenarthra are part of the super-cohort Atlantogenata. Families Cyclopedidae Myrmecophagidae Anteaters are the 4 mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua commonly known for eating ants and termites. ... Families Megalonychidae Bradypodidae Sloths are medium-sized South American mammals belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae, part of the order Pilosa. ... Genera Chlamyphorus Cabassous Chaetophractus Dasypus Euphractus Priodontes Tolypeutes Zaedyus This page is about the animal. ... Cohort may mean: Cohort (military unit), a Roman legion. ... Atlantogenata is a mammal clade containing the cohorts or super-orders Xenarthra, Afrotheria and Meridiungulata. ...

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Extant mammal orders by subclass

onmouseover="pv(event, 78)" onmouseout="unpv(78)" style="">Australosphenida: Monotremata Families Bradypodidae Megalonychidae Cyclopedidae Myrmecophagidae The order Pilosa is a group of placental mammals, extant today only in the Americas. ... Families Cyclopedidae Myrmecophagidae Anteaters are the 4 mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua commonly known for eating ants and termites. ... Binomial name Cyclopes didactylus (Linnaeus, 1758) Silky Anteater or Pygmy Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) is a species of anteater from Central and South America ranging from extreme southern Mexico south to Brazil and, possibly, Paraguay. ... Binomial name Cyclopes didactylus (Linnaeus, 1758) Silky Anteater or Pygmy Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) is a species of anteater from Central and South America ranging from extreme southern Mexico south to Brazil and, possibly, Paraguay. ... Genera Myrmecophaga Tamandua Cyclopes Anteaters are mammals of the order Xenarthra and the family Myrmecophagidae, commonly known for eating ants and termites. ... Binomial name Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758 Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Anteater The Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest species of anteater. ... Binomial name Tamandua tetradactyla Linnaeus, 1758 Southern Anteater or Lesser Anteater, Tamandua tetradactyla, is a species of Anteater from South America. ... Families Megalonychidae Bradypodidae Sloths are medium-sized South American mammals belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae, part of the order Pilosa. ... Families Megalonychidae Bradypodidae Sloths are medium-sized South American mammals belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae, part of the order Xenarthra. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Binomial name Bradypus tridactylus Linnaeus, 1758 The Pale-throated Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) is a sloth. ... Binomial name Bradypus torquatus Illiger, 1811 The Maned Three-toed Sloth, also known as an Ai, Bradypus torquatus, is a species of three-toed South American sloth. ... Families Megalonychidae Bradypodidae Sloths are medium-sized South American mammals belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae, part of the order Xenarthra. ... Binomial name Choloepus hoffmanni Peters, 1859 The Hoffmanns Two-toed Sloth, Choloepus hoffmanni, is a species of Sloth from Central and South America. ... Binomial name Choloepus didactylus Linnaeus, 1758 Southern Two-toed Sloth, Choloepus didactylus, is a species of Sloth from South America. ... Families Rathymotheriidae Scelidotheriidae Mylodontidae Orophodontidae Megalonychidae Megatheriidae Ground sloths are extinct edentate (Order Xenarthra) mammals that are believed to be relatives of tree sloths and three-toed sloths. ... Families Rathymotheriidae Scelidotheriidae Mylodontidae Orophodontidae Megalonychidae Megatheriidae Ground sloths are extinct edentate (Order Xenarthra) mammals that are believed to be relatives of tree sloths and three-toed sloths. ... Families Rathymotheriidae Scelidotheriidae Mylodontidae Orophodontidae Megalonychidae Megatheriidae Ground sloths are extinct edentate (Order Xenarthra) mammals that are believed to be relatives of tree sloths and three-toed sloths. ... Families Rathymotheriidae Scelidotheriidae Mylodontidae Orophodontidae Megalonychidae Megatheriidae Ground sloths are extinct edentate (Order Xenarthra) mammals that are believed to be relatives of tree sloths and three-toed sloths. ... Genera Chlamyphorus Cabassous Chaetophractus Dasypus Euphractus Priodontes Tolypeutes Zaedyus This page is about the animal. ... For the fictional monster from the Dungeons & Dragons universe, see dire animal. ... Genera Chlamyphorus Cabassous Chaetophractus Dasypus Euphractus Priodontes Tolypeutes Zaedyus Armadillos are any of several small mammals of the family Dasypodidae, mostly known for having a bony armor shell. ... Binomial name Chlamyphorus truncatus Harlan, 1825 The pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) or pichiciego is a species of armadillo (small mammals of the family Dasypodidae, mostly known for having a bony armor shell). ... Binomial name Chlamyphorus truncatus Harlan, 1825 The Pink Fairy Armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) or Pichiciego is a species of armadillo (small mammals of the family Dasypodidae, mostly known for having a bony armor shell). ... Binomial name Cabassous centralis (Miller, 1899) The Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo (Cabassous centralis) is a species of armadillo. ... Binomial name Cabassous unicinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) Southern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous unicinctus, is a small species of Armadillo from South America. ... Binomial name Cabassous tatouay (Desmarest, 1804) Greater Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous tatouay, is an Armadillo species from South America. ... The Andean hairy armadillo is present in Bolivia, in the region of the Puna, the departments of Oruro, La Paz, Cochabamba (Gardner, 1993), Nowark (1991) quotes as distribution area Bolivia and the north of Chile, nevertheless, does not exist assertion of populations of this one species in Chile. ... Binomial name Dasypus novemcinctus Linaeus, 1758 The Nine-banded Long-nosed Armadillo or just Nine-banded Armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is a species of armadillo from North, Central and South America. ... Binomial name Dasypus septemcinctus (Kerr, 1792) Seven-banded Long-nosed Armadillo or just Seven-banded Armadillo, Dasypus septemcinctus, is a species of Armadillo from South America. ... Binomial name Dasypus hybridus (Desmarest, 1804) Southern Long-nosed Armadillo, Dasypus hybridus, is an Armadillo species from South America. ... Binomial name Dasypus kappleri (Kerr, 1792) Great Long-nosed Armadillo, Dasypus kappleri, is a species of Armadillo from South America. ... Binomial name Euphractus sexcinctus (Kerr, 1792) Yellow Armadillo or Six-banded Armadillo, Euphractus sexcinctus, is a species of Armadillo from South America. ... Binomial name Priodontes maximus (Kerr, 1792) The Giant Armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is the largest species of armadillo. ... Binomial name Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarest, 1804) Southern Three-banded Armadillo, Tolypeutes matacus, is an Armadillo species from South America. ... Binomial name Tolypeutes tricinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo, Tolypeutes tricinctus, is an armadillo species endemic to Brazil. ... Binomial name Zaedyus pichiy Pichi or Dwarf Armadillo is a small armadillo that is the only member the genus Zaedyus. ... Orders Multituberculata (extinct) Volaticotheria (extinct) Palaeoryctoides (extinct) Triconodonta (extinct) Subclass Australosphenida Ausktribosphenida Monotremata Subclass Eutheria (excludes extinct ancestors) Afrosoricida Anagaloidea (extinct) Arctostylopida (extinct) Artiodactyla Carnivora Cetacea Chiroptera Cimolesta (extinct) Cingulata Creodonta (extinct) Condylarthra (extinct) Dermoptera Desmostylia (extinct) Dinocerata (extinct) Embrithopoda (extinct) Hyracoidea Insectivora Lagomorpha Leptictida (extinct) Litopterna (extinct) Macroscelidea Mesonychia... The Australosphenida are a sub-class of mammals which has nearly entirely died out. ... Families â€ Kollikodontidae Ornithorhynchidae - Platypus Tachyglossidae - Echidnas â€ Steropodontidae Monotremes (monos, single + trema, hole; refers to the cloaca) are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials (Metatheria) and placental mammals (Eutheria). ...

Marsupialia: Didelphimorphia · Paucituberculata · Microbiotheria · Notoryctemorphia · Dasyuromorphia · Peramelemorphia · Diprotodontia Orders Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Marsupials are mammals in which the female typically has a pouch (called the marsupium, from which the name Marsupial derives) in which it rears its young through early infancy. ... Genera Several; see text Opossum fur is quite soft, and was once commonly used in the bathtub as a sponge. ... Genera Caenolestes Lestoros Rhyncholestes The biological order Paucituberculata contains the five surviving species of shrew opossum: small, shrew-like marsupials which are confined to the Andes mountains of South America. ... Binomial name Dromiciops australis Thomas, 1894 The Monito del Monte (little mountain monkey, Dromiciops australis) is a semi-arboreal South American marsupial which is thought to be more closely related to the marsupials of Australasia than to those of the Americas. ... Species The marsupial moles are rare and poorly understood burrowing mammals of the deserts of western Australia. ... Families Thylacinidae Dasyuridae Myrmecobiidae Most carnivorous marsupials belong to the order Dasyuromorphia, including the quolls, dunnarts, Numbat, Tasmanian Devil, and the recently extinct Thylacine. ... Families: Peroryctidae Peramelidae The order Peramelemorphia includes the bandicoots and bilbies: it equates approximately to the mainstream of marsupial omnivores. ... Suborders Vombatiformes Phalangeriformes Macropodiformes Diprotodontia is a large taxon of about 120 marsupial mammals including the kangaroos, wallabies, possums, Koala, wombats, and many others. ...

Placentalia: Afrosoricida · Macroscelidea · Tubulidentata · Hyracoidea · Proboscidea · Sirenia · Cingulata · Pilosa · Scandentia · Dermoptera · Primates · Rodentia · Lagomorpha · Erinaceomorpha · Soricomorpha · Chiroptera · Pholidota · Carnivora · Perissodactyla · Artiodactyla · Cetacea Eutheria is a taxon (specifically, an infraclass) nearly synonymous with Placentalia, containing the placental mammals and the nearest ancestors of placental mammals (which are known only from the fossil record). ... Families Chrysochloridae Tenrecidae The order Afrosoricida (also known as Tenrecomorpha) contains two families of small mammals that are possibly a part of the traditional order Insectivora. ... Genera Rhynchocyon Petrodromus Macroscelides Elephantulus The small insectivorous mammals endemic to Africa known as elephant shrews are neither elephants nor shrews and, more formally, are the members of the biological order Macroscelidea. ... Binomial name Orycteropus afer (Pallas, 1766) The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a medium-sized mammal native to Africa. ... Genera Procavia Heterohyrax Dendrohyrax A hyrax (in South African English: klipdassie) is any of four species of fairly small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. ... Groups Jozaria (extinct) Anthracobunidae (extinct) Moeritheriidae (extinct) Euproboscidea Numidotheriidae (extinct) Barytheriidae (extinct) Deinotheriidae (extinct) Elephantiformes Phiomiidae (extinct) Palaeomastodontidae (extinct) Hemimastodontidae (extinct) Euelephantoidea Choerolophodontidae (extinct) Amebelodontidae (extinct) Gnathabelodontidae (extinct) Gomphotheriidae (extinct) Elephantidae Mammutidae (extinct) Proboscidea is an order containing only one family of living animals, Elephantidae, the elephants, with three species... Families Dugongidae Trichechidae Hydrochichus (extinct) For information about the Gothic metal band, see Sirenia (band) The Sirenia are fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries and coastal marine waters. ... For other uses, see Armadillo (disambiguation). ... Families Bradypodidae Megalonychidae Cyclopedidae Myrmecophagidae The order Pilosa is a group of placental mammals, extant today only in the Americas. ... Families Tupaiidae Ptilocercidae The treeshrews are small mammals native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. ... Species Cynocephalus varigatus Cynocephalus volans Colugos are arboreal gliding mammals found in South-east Asia. ... Families 15, See classification A primate (L. prima, first) is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. ... Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents. ... Families The Lagomorphs, order Lagomorpha, are an order of mammals of which there are two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). ... Subfamily Erinaceinae Hylomyinae Erinaceidae is a family in the order of the Insectivora. ... Families Nesophontidae Solenodontidae Soricidae Talpidae The order Soricomorpha is a biological clade within the class of mammals. ... Suborders Megachiroptera Microchiroptera See text for families. ... Species Manis culionensis Manis gigantea Manis temmincki Manis tricuspis Manis tetradactyla Manis crassicaudata Manis pentadactyla Manis javanica Pangolins (pÄƒnggÉ™-lÄn) or scaly anteaters are mammals in the Pholidota order. ... Families 17, See classification The diverse order Carnivora IPA: (from Latin carÅ (stem carn-) flesh, + vorÄre to devour) includes over 260 placental mammals. ... Families Equidae Tapiridae Rhinocerotidae Brontotheriidae(extinct) Chalicotheriidae(extinct) Hyracodontidae(extinct) The odd-toed ungulates or Perissodactyla are large to very large browsing and grazing mammals with relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe. ... Families Antilocapridae Bovidae Camelidae Cervidae Giraffidae Hippopotamidae Moschidae Suidae Tayassuidae Tragulidae The even-toed ungulates form the mammal order Artiodactyla. ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ...