Fossil ground sloth skull
Place Collected(Object)
: South America, Argentina Dimensions:length=50; width=20; height=36 cm
Taxonomy
- Attributes
- Objects
- Taxonomy
- Kingdom:
Animalia
- Phylum:
Chordata
- Class:
Mammalia
- Order:
Xenarthra
- Family:
Mylodontidae
- Genus:
Catonyx
- SpecificEpithet:
tarijensis
Object number: ROMVP01202
Gallery Location:Reed Family Gallery of the Age of Mammals, South America, Xenarthrans, Nematherium
DescriptionA whole variety of herbivorous sloths evolved in South America, when it was isolated from all other continents. The medium-sized mylodonts, such as Catonyx, were the most abundant, judging by their fossil remains. Catonyx had a wide distribution across southern South America; this particular skull was collected in Argentina.
