Euphractinae is an armadillo subfamily in the family

Chlamyphoridae Chlamyphoridae is a family of cingulate mammals. While glyptodonts have traditionally been considered stem-group cingulates outside the group that contains modern armadillos, there had been speculation that the extant family Dasypodidae could b ...

. Euphractinae are known for having a well developed osteoderm that has large cavities filled with adipose tissue, and more hair follicles with well developed sebaceous glands in comparison to the Dasypodidae sub family. These are believed to be evolutionary adaptations in the Euphractinae to support it in the cooler climate that it usually lives in. __TOC__

Taxonomy

It contains the following genera: *''

Chaetophractus ''Chaetophractus'' is a small genus of armadillos in the family Chlamyphoridae. It contains the following three species: Members of the genus are endemic to the continent of South America. They are found in the central and southern countries s ...

'', hairy armadillos *''

Euphractus The six-banded armadillo (''Euphractus sexcinctus''), also known as the yellow armadillo, is an armadillo found in South America. The sole extant member of its genus, it was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The six-b ...

'', six-banded armadillos *'' Zaedyus'', pichis Extinct genera include: * '' Paleuphractus'' * '' Doellotatus'' * ''

Proeuphractus ''Proeuphractus'' is an extinct genus of xenarthran, related to the modern armadillos. It lived from the Early to the Late Miocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America. Description This animal was quite similar to the m ...

'' * ''

Macroeuphractus ''Macroeuphractus'' is a genus of extinct armadillos from the Late Miocene to Late Pliocene of South America. The genus is noted for its large size, with ''Macroeuphractus outesi'' being the largest non- pampathere or glyptodont armadillo discov ...

Phylogeny

mitochondrial DNA Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is the DNA located in mitochondria, cellular organelles within eukaryotic cells that convert chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial D ...

investigation has concluded that Euphractinae is the

sister group In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree. Definition The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram: Taxon A and ...

of a clade consisting of

Chlamyphorinae Chlamyphorinae is a subfamily of South American armadillos in the family Chlamyphoridae. Members of this subfamily, the fairy armadillos, are largely fossorial and have reduced eyes and robust forearms with large claws for digging. __TOC__ Taxo ...

(fairy armadillos) and

Tolypeutinae Tolypeutinae is a subfamily of armadillos in the family Chlamyphoridae, consisting of the giant, three-banded and naked-tailed armadillos. __TOC__ Taxonomy It contains the following genera: *''Cabassous'' *'' Kuntinaru'' *'' Priodontes'' *''T ...

(giant, three-banded and naked-tailed armadillos) along with extinct

glyptodont Glyptodonts are an extinct subfamily of large, heavily armoured armadillos. They arose in South America around 48 million years ago and spread to southern North America after the continents became connected several million years ago. The best-k ...

s, as shown below.

References

Armadillos Mammal subfamilies Eocene xenarthrans Oligocene xenarthrans Miocene xenarthrans Pliocene xenarthrans Pleistocene xenarthrans Extant Eocene first appearances Taxa named by Herluf Winge {{mammal-stub