Ground sloth predators1/1/2024 Rancho La Brea stable isotope biogeochemistry and its implications for the palaeoecology of late Pleistocene, coastal southern California. Notas del Museo de La Pata 1: 193–206.Ĭoltrain, J., Harris, J., Cerling, T., Ehleringer, J., Dearing, M.D., Ward, J., Allen, J. The species of the genus ‘ Glossotherium’. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20(3):601–610.Ĭabrera, A. Limb Bone Proportions, Strength and Digging in Some Lujanian (Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene) Mylodontid Ground Sloths (Mammalia, Xenarthra). It is also thought that this animal was covered with coarse, shaggy hair, based on preserved hair recovered from a cave site in Utah (Davis et al. In Harlan's ground sloth, these osteoderms were located around the neck, shoulders and back, and they likely provided some protection against predators. A fairly unique characteristic of mylodont ground sloths is the presence of small, pebble-like bones, called osteoderms or dermal ossicles, embedded deep within the skin. Soft teeth wear down faster than hard teeth, and to compensate for this, their teeth continued to grown throughout their lifetime (MacFadden et al. As with other sloths, the teeth had an outer layer of dentine, rather than enamel, and thus were softer than those of other mammals. It also had an elongated head with blunt nose and flat grinding teeth. Harlan's ground sloth was a massive, powerfully built animal, with an enormous chest, extremely large forelimbs, stout hind limbs, strong claws, short neck and a robust tail. For that reason, we refer to Harlan's ground sloth as P. A recent evaluation of physical characteristics and measurements of different mylodont species, particularly skull and jaw measurements, supports the latter argument and demonstrates that the two genera are, in fact, distinguishable from each other (McAfee 2009). This disagreement stems primarily from early confusion about how to name the different ground sloth skeletons assigned to the Mylodont family, with the result that a single species, such as Harlan's ground sloth, might have had as many as 15 different scientific names! Over time, this confusion led to disagreement about whether Paramylodon was truly a different genus than Glossotherium, with some scientists suggesting that all mylodont sloths should be assigned to the genus Glossotherium (Hoffstetter 1952 Kurtén and Anderson 1980 Simpson 1945) and others arguing that Paramylodon is a valid genus for North American mylodont sloths (Cabrera 1936 Kraglievich 1928 McDonald 1995). Consequently, Harlan's ground sloth is alternately identified as Glossotherium harlani or Paramylodon harlani within scientific literature and across the internet. Unlike modern sloths, which spend most of their time in trees, ground sloths spent all of their time on the ground.įor nearly two centuries there has been some controversy regarding how Harlan's ground sloth relates to other Pleistocene mylodont ground sloths, and particularly whether it belongs to the Glossotherium genus or Paramylodon genus. Ground sloths were large relatives of the modern two-toed sloths ( Choloepus spp.) and three-toed sloths ( Bradypus spp.). You can read about the other type, Jefferson's ground sloth, here. Harlan's ground sloth is a mylodont ground sloth and one of two types of ground sloth that has been recovered from late Pleistocene sites in the Midwest.
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