Hiskatherium
Encyclopedia
Hiskatherium is an extinct genus
of small ground sloth
from the Miocene
of Bolivia
. The type species
H. saintandrei was named in 2011 on the basis of a lower jaw. Although it has not been placed in a specific family, Hiskatherium is similar to the extinct sloths Hapalops
and Xyophorus.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of small ground sloth
Ground sloth
Ground sloths are a diverse group of extinct sloths, in the mammalian superorder Xenarthra. Their most recent survivors lived in the Antilles, where it has been proposed they may have survived until 1550 CE; however, the youngest AMS radiocarbon date reported is 4190 BP, calibrated to c. 4700 BP...
from the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
of Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
H. saintandrei was named in 2011 on the basis of a lower jaw. Although it has not been placed in a specific family, Hiskatherium is similar to the extinct sloths Hapalops
Hapalops
Hapalops is an extinct genus of ground sloth from the late Oligocene of South America.Though related to the giant Megatherium, Hapalops was much smaller, measuring about in length. Like most extinct sloths it is categorized as a ground sloth, but it is believed that the smaller size of Hapalops...
and Xyophorus.