In Depth Xibalbaonyx is a genus of ground sloth that lived in Mexico during the Pleistocene, Many fossils of this ground sloth have been recovered from underwater caves. Further Reading - Xibalbaonyx oviceps, a new megalonychid ground sloth (Folivora, Xenarthra) from the Late Pleistocene of the Yucat�n Peninsula, Mexico, and its paleobiogeographic significance. - PalZ. … Read more
In Depth Known from a partial skull, Kuntinaru is a genus of dasypodid armadillo that lived in Bolivia during the Oligocene. Further Reading - Oldest cingulate skulls provide congruence between morphological and molecular scenarios of armadillo evolution. - Proceedings of the Royal Society B 278 (1719): 2791–2797. - Guillaume Billet, Lionel Hautier, Christian de Muizon … Read more
In Depth Compared to other giant ground sloths Mylodon is closely related to Glossotherium. While analysis of dung samples has confirmed it was a herbivore, Mylodon would have also been especially resilient to attack from predators due to the presence of thick bony plates called osteoderms. These osteoderms were just under the skin and in … Read more
Glyptodon: Research Database Glyptodontidae (Xenarthra) · Pleistocene (~2.5 MYA–11,000 years ago) · South America — Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay Research Note: Glyptodon was a massive armored mammal the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, the largest member of the extinct group Glyptodontidae — relatives of modern armadillos. Weighing up to 1,000 kg and covered in a … Read more
In Depth Paramylodon acquired its name from its close similarity to another ground sloth called Mylodon. This close similarity has led to questions as to if they are actually separate genera since the original defining characteristic of the two genera having a different dental formulae is today no longer considered enough because the numbers of … Read more
In Depth A relatively small ground sloth when compared to others such as Megatherium, Eremotherium and Glossotherium, Nothrotheriops seems to have had a similar lifestyle and dietary preference of browsing upon vegetation. One specimen of Nothrotheriops from Aden Crater in New Mexico was found in a lava tube and still had the remnants of hair … Read more
In Depth Although not as large as Megatherium, Glossotherium was one of the largest known ground sloths in North America, though not as large as Eremotherium. Even though Glossoherium is known from across the USA and Mexico however, its full geographical distribution extends into South America all the way down into Argentina. Like other ground … Read more
Megatherium: Research Database Megalonychidae · Pleistocene (~2 MYA – 10,000 YA) · South America Research Note: Megatherium is one of the largest land mammals to have existed, known from excellent fossil material across South America. Richard Owen’s 1861 memoir on Megatherium was one of the earliest comprehensive studies of an extinct mammal. Direct papers on … Read more
In Depth With a length of four meters Doedicurus is easily one of the larger members of the glyptodonts, armoured herbivores that are related to modern day armadillos. Like other glyptodonts, Doedicurus had an armoured shell made from osteoderms that grew to surround its body. This shell was most strongly fixed around the pelvis, with … Read more
In Depth Peltephilus was an extinct relative of today’s armadillos, though its large size makes it comparable to the largest of today’s species such as the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) which has a combined head and tail length of one hundred and fifty centimetres (one hundred for the body and fifty for the tail). The … Read more