Until about 11,000 years ago, armadillos the size of bears roamed parts of South America and southeastern North America. The species that lived in Florida and coastal Georgia was Holmesina septentrionalsis and is known by the common name of northern pampathere. There were 3 genera of giant armadillos including the tonnicinctus, pampatherium, and holmesina. They should not be confused with glyptodonts, though they were related. Glyptodonts were much larger and had stiff turtle-like shells whereas pampathere carapaces were flexible, allowing them to roll up in the shape of a ball to protect themselves from predators. There were 6 species in the holmesina genus. Most species lived in South America–their continent of origin.
The largest pampatheres grew to 9 feet long. The species that lived in Florida grew to about 7 feet long.
Location of the site where 2 complete specimens of a newly discovered species of pampathere was discovered. From the below referenced paper.
Skulls of the newly discovered species. From the below referenced paper.
Image from the below referenced paper.
Cave explorers discovered the complete skeletons of 2 pampatheres in Lapinha Cave located in Bahia, Brazil. Scientists examined the specimens and determined they belonged to a previously unknown species, and they gave it the scientific name Holmesina cryptae. It had a more triangular-shaped head than any other species of pampathere. Its osteoderms, the boney plates that make up its carapace, were similar in some ways to those in the pampatherium genus and similar in other ways to species in the holmesina genus. Based on skull morphology, they placed it in the holmesina genus.
Reference:
Mauro, J.; F. Gais, F. Galleri, M. Fernandes
“A New and Most Complete Pampathere (Mammalia, Xenartha, Cingulata) From the Quaternary of Bahia, Brazil”
Zootaxa 4661 (3) 2019
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