Mylodon

Common card · No. 468034

Mylodon is an extinct genus of ground sloth belonging to the family Mylodontidae, known from southern South America. With a total length of 3 to 4 m and a body mass of 1-2 tonnes, it is one of the largest mylodontids, though it was considerably exceeded in size by the mylodontid Lestodon. The oldest finds probably date to the Lower Pleistocene; however, most of the fossil remains date to the Late Pleistocene (spanning the Ensenadan and Lujanian faunal stages). Its distribution ranged from southern Bolivia and the Pampas in the north southwards to the southernmost part of Patagonia at around 52-53 degrees south, the furthest south of any Pleistocene ground sloth, with some of the best known remains of the species being from the eponymous Cueva del Milodon (cave of Mylodon) in southern Chile. In addition to skeletal remains, Mylodon is also known from preserved skin and hair. Preserved dung (coprolites) indicates that Mylodon was a primarily a grazer, feeding on grasses and sedges. Mylodon...

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