Megatherium

Megatheria were a group of elephant-sized giant sloths that lived from 2 million to 8,000 years ago. Their smaller giant sloth cousins were the Mylodon.

Characteristics

Unlike its living relative, the tree sloth, Megatherium was one of the largest mammals to walk the Earth. Weighing almost as much as an elephant, it had huge claws on its feet. These claws meant that it could not put its feet flat on the ground and so, like a modern anteater, it had to walk on the sides of its feet. Its footprints show that it walked mainly on its hind legs.

Related Topics:
Tree sloth - Anteater

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There is a common misbelief that the sabre-toothed cat Smilodon hunted Megatherium, but the sloths were too big for even this large cat to attack. Scientists studying the behaviour of megatheria have concluded that due to their nutrient-poor habitats, they may have actually taken over the kills of Smilodon.

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