Lesions in osteoderms of pampatheres (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Cingulata) possibly caused by fleas

Nascimento, Carolina Santa Isabel; Moura, Jorge Felipe; Robbi, Beatriz; Fernandes, Marcelo Adorna

doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105614

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Cavities with similar morphology were described in the osteoderms of Holmesina cryptae, including individual unbranched, circular to elliptical holes with a tapered cone shape and a smooth interior. They were attributed to flea marks (Nascimento et al, 2020) in line with previous work on other cingulates (Tomassini et al, 2016;Lima & Porpino, 2018). Additionally, Moura et al (2021) established new ichnospecies of the genus Karethraichnus, K. minimum, for these marks.…”

Section: Ectoparasitismsupporting

confidence: 72%

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New exoskeletal material from Bahia provides new evidence of geographic distribution and paleopathology for Quaternary cingulates

Pales,

Porpino,

Scherer

2023

Rev. bras. paleontol.

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The Cingulata clade has a great taxonomic diversity, and its remains are abundantly found in the fossil record of South America, represented mainly by elements from the exoskeleton. Most of the work on cingulate fossils from the Brazilian Quaternary is restricted to taxonomy, while studies on paleobiology, including pathological aspects, are still scarce. This paper describes new exoskeletal specimens and paleopathological evidence for cingulates from Quaternary deposits in Bahia State, Brazil, among the identified taxa (Pachyarmatheriumbrasiliense, Tolypeutes cf. tricinctus, Propraopussulcatus, Glyptotherium sp., Neuryurus sp., Panochthus sp., Hoplophorus cf. euphractus, Pampatheriumhumboldtii, and Holmesina paulacoutoi). Neuryurus is recorded for the first time in the Quaternary of Bahia. Skin lesions, possibly caused by fungi or bacteria, are identified for Panochthus sp. and Glyptotherium sp. In addition, we identified lesions caused by fleas in Glyptotherium sp. These findings underscore disharmonious interspecific relationships involving microorganisms and parasites with glyptodonts, aligning with previous research conclusions. Keywords: Paleobiology, Paleopathology, Cingulata, Quaternary.

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Section: Ectoparasitismsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…and Pachyarmatherium brasiliense (Lima & Porpino, 2018), Neuryurus sp. (Perea et al, 2019), Holmesina cryptae (Nascimento et al, 2020;Moura et al, 2021), and Chaetophractus villosus, Tolypeutes matacus (Boyde et al, 2023). Other types of lesions, such as infections caused by fungi or bacteria, have been reported for Panochthus sp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New exoskeletal material from Bahia provides new evidence of geographic distribution and paleopathology for Quaternary cingulates

Pales,

Porpino,

Scherer

2023

Rev. bras. paleontol.

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“…Hammond et al ( 2014 ) show T. perforans type lesions in an archaeological context in pygmy armadillo ( Zaedyus pichiy ) osteoderms. Evidence from extinct fossil species shows that similar lesions were made a very long time ago (late Miocene—Tomassini et al, 2016 ; Quaternary—de Lima & Porpino, 2018 ; Nascimento et al, 2020 ). Perea et al ( 2020 ) show, in their figure 5a, an example of a lesion at a triple junction very similar to those which we have found in the present study in their study of insect trace fossils in glyptodonts—an extinct subfamily of heavily armoured, large armadillos.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Fleas and lesions in armadillo osteoderms

et al. 2023

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Armadillos are bitten by several species of flea. Females of the genus Tunga penetrate the epidermis and when in place are fertilised by males, after which the abdomen swells enormously to form a ‘neosome’. Within the penetrans group, T. perforans, makes lesions that perforate the osteoderms within the integument to form ~3 mm diameter cavities occupied by a discoid neosome. We examined these lesions in carapace material from animals which had died in the wild to see whether we could recruit evidence as to how they may be generated, either by the insect or by the host. We studied one species without such lesions, the nine‐banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus, and two species with, the greater hairy armadillo Chaetophractus villosus and the southern three‐banded armadillo Tolypeutes matacus, both showing the characteristic ‘flea bite’ holes in the external surfaces of the osteoderms. Samples were studied by three‐dimensional backscattered electron mode scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray microtomography. Both methods showed resorption pit complexes in the external surfaces of the osteoderms characteristic of those made by osteoclasts in active bone resorption. Lesions involved both the syndesmoses (sutures) between adjacent bones and the central regions of the osteoderms. Many lesions showed extensive repair by infilling with new bone. We conclude that the T. perforans neosome creates a local host response which causes bone resorption, creating the space in which it can grow.

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“…The cavity should be generated by the bone remodelling process operating to accommodate the growing abdomen of the female flea (neosome) (Figure 1). This conclusion is based on the analysis of optical and SEM images of 32 trace fossils in three specimens of fossil armadillos, and their comparison with several bioerosion trace fossils and extant evidence (Höpner & Bertling, 2017;Mehlhorn, 2016;Nascimento et al, 2020;Pirrone et al, 2014;Wisshak et al, 2019).…”

Section: E T T E R T O T H E E D I T O R Comment On Boyde Et Al (2023...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comment on Boyde et al. (2023), ‘Fleas and lesions in armadillo osteoderms’

Peixoto,

de Barros,

Nascimento

et al. 2023

Journal of Anatomy

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Lesions in osteoderms of pampatheres (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Cingulata) possibly caused by fleas

Cited by 9 publications

References 25 publications

New exoskeletal material from Bahia provides new evidence of geographic distribution and paleopathology for Quaternary cingulates

New exoskeletal material from Bahia provides new evidence of geographic distribution and paleopathology for Quaternary cingulates

Fleas and lesions in armadillo osteoderms

Comment on Boyde et al. (2023), ‘Fleas and lesions in armadillo osteoderms’

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