Cranial osteology of a juvenile specimen of Acratocnus ye (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Folivora) and its ontogenetic and phylogenetic implications

Abstract

The present study comprises a description of the skull and jaw anatomy of a juvenile specimen of the Antillean sloth Acratocnus ye, from the Holocene of Haiti. Detailed descriptions and illustrations are provided of the skull bones and their sutural connections, which normally fuse in adults. Descriptions are also provided for the mandible and ear ossicles, as well as endocranial surfaces and sinuses exposed by breaks. The anatomy of our juvenile A. ye is compared to that of adult A. ye to assess ontogenetic changes in the skull. Several of these ontogenetic features are significant new observations that impact the relationships within Xenarthra as a whole, or between Xenarthrans and other placental mammals, most notably, the presence of a separate mesethmoid element, the presence of alveoli for a lower deciduous canine and anterior incisor, and the presence of separate rostral and caudal entotympanic elements. A full list of such changes are provided. In addition, the specimen provides information on phylogenetically relevant characters, including features unique to the genus Acratocnus, and features of the clade Choloepodini, including Acratocnus, the smaller extinct Antillean sloth Neocnus, and the extant two-toed sloth Choloepus. Contrary to previous studies, Acratocnus shares as many features with Choloepus as it does with its fellow Antillean form Neocnus in the present study, which is consistent with current morphology-based phylogenetic hypotheses regarding the relationships within Choloepodini. The current study highlights the need for further anatomical and phylogenetic investigations of Antillean sloths (Megalocnidae/Megalonychidae), and juvenile sloths in general.