Pampatheriidae

Pampatheriidae (from the Pampas Plain, and Ancient Greek θηρίον (theríon), meaning "beast") is an extinct family of large xenarthran cingulates related to armadillos. They first appeared in South America during the mid-Miocene, and Holmesina and Pampatherium spread to North America during the Pleistocene after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama as part of the Great American Interchange. They became extinct as part of the end-Pleistocene extinction event, about 12,000 years ago.

== Taxonomy == The placement of the Eocene genus Machlydotherium in the family is considered doubtful. The oldest undoubted member of the group is Scirrotherium from La Venta, Colombia, dating to the mid-Miocene. Analysis of ear morphology suggests that they are most closely related to the much larger glyptodonts, which genetic evidence indicates is nested with modern armadillos as part of the family Chlamyphoridae, which by extension also places pampatheres within this group.