Holmesina is an extinct genus of pampathere, an extinct group of armadillo-like xenarthrans that were distantly related to extant armadillos. Like armadillos, and unlike the other extinct branch of megafaunal cingulates, the glyptodonts, the shell was made up of flexible plates which allowed the animal to move more easily. Holmesina individuals were much larger than any modern armadillo: They could reach a length of 2 m, and a weight of 227 kg, while the modern giant armadillo does not attain more than 54 kg.

Distribution

They traveled north during the faunal interchange, and adapted well to North America, like the ground sloths, glyptodonts, armadillos, capybaras, and other South American immigrants. During the Late Pleistocene, Holmesina dispersed from North America back into South America, as evidenced by the morphological similarity of Late Pleistocene species in South America. Their fossils are found from Brazil to the United States, mostly in Texas and Florida.

Diet

Holmesina species were herbivores that grazed on coarse vegetation; armadillos are mostly insectivorous or omnivorous. H. paulacoutoi was a generalist plant-eater but had a preference for C4 plants.

Palaeopathology

Three H. cryptae specimens have been described bearing evidence of bacterial and fungal infections, along with sand flea ectoparasitism.