In this study, the first records of lesions in osteoderms of Holmesina, a group of fossil cingulates related to armadillos, possibly caused by the action of penetrating fleas (Siphonaptera) are described. Three individuals of Holmesina cryptae (Pampatheriidae) were collected from Quaternary sediments in Lapinha Cave (Iramaia, Bahia state, Brazil). Their osteoderms were analyzed by stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy and alterations on their surfaces were recognized. We found 63 marks distributed in 23 of 1300 analyzed osteoderms (approximately 1.8% of the total of osteoderms), characterized by vertical cavities with well-delimited circular borders similar to those lesions made by Tungidae fleas in extant mammals. These records indicate that there was an interaction between penetrating fleas and pampatheres during the Quaternary in Brazilian Intertropical Region, and contribute to the understanding of the evolution of these ectoparasites and the relationship with their hosts.

在这项研究中，描述了Holmesina（一组与犰狳有关的化石带状扣带，可能由穿透性跳蚤（Siphonaptera）的行为引起）的骨质真皮中皮损的最初记录。Holmesina cryptae的三个人（Pampatheriidae）是从Lapinha洞穴（巴西巴伊亚州伊拉马亚）的第四纪沉积物中收集的。通过立体显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对它们的骨质进行分析，并识别其表面的变化。我们在1300份分析过的真皮中发现了63个标记（约占整个真皮的1.8％），其特征是垂直腔内具有清晰界定的圆形边界，类似于通行的跳蚤在现有哺乳动物中造成的病变。这些记录表明，在巴西热带地区第四纪期间，有穿透力的跳蚤和羽扇豆之间存在相互作用，并且有助于理解这些外寄生虫的进化及其与寄主的关系。