Epipeltephilus

Epipeltephilus was originally described in 1904 by Florentino Ameghino, its holotype being MACN A 11641, which included remains of the occipital and frontal areas of the skull, and fragments of the right mandible preserving five molariformes, coming from the Mayoan Rio Mayo Formation. [1] In 1915, remains from the Arroyo Chasicó Formation are recovered, and they were first mentioned in literature in 1931. In 2012, Gonzalez-Ruiz, Scillato-Yané, Krmpotic and Carlini described the second species, E. kanti, with MLP 92-XI-19-7, three osteoderms, as holotype, with other osteoderms and a single molariform as among the remaining material associated to the species, all coming from the Arroyo Chasicó Formation.[2] Finally, in 2016, a new species, E. caraguensis, is described from remains coming from Northern Chile by Montoya-Sanhuez, Moreno, Bobe, Carrano, García and Corgne, with, as holotype, SGO-PV 21102, composed of four osteoderms and fragmentary cranial and postcranial remains.[3]

Epipeltephilus means, in Latin, "above Peltephilus".

Epipeltephilus's skull was larger than Peltephilus, and lower and wider in its posterior area, and its temporals were more extended laterally. The sagittal and occipital crests were less visible on Epipeltephilus, and its mandibles were larger, with vertically implanted, sub-elliptical molariforms, the last one being of similar size with the others, in opposition to several of its relatives. Like its relatives, it had the typical "horn" osteoderms.[1][2]

While originally recovered as carnivorous armadillos, peltephilids are now considered to be more generalist, able to dig to find tough tubers, but also eating potentially carrion.[4] Finally, in 2016, a new species, E. caraguensis, is described from remains coming from Northern Chile by Montoya-Sanhuez, Moreno, Bobe, Carrano, García and Corgne, with, as holotype, SGO-PV 21102, composed of four osteoderms and fragmentary cranial and postcranial remains.[3] They were probably burrowers. While on the edge of extinction during the late Miocene, they were still widely distributed, known from Patagonia to the Central Andes.[3]