Megalonyx jeffersonii Late Pleistocene Marion County, Florida Undoubtedly one of the finest examples of its kind yet discovered, all bones in this specimen were recovered in association and originate from the same animal. The specimen is a left foot, approximately 35,000 years old. Megalonyx lived from the Middle to Late Pleistocene, ranging throughout North America. These giant ground sloths weighed approximately 800 pounds, and could grow up to 8 to 10 feet long. Their flat-footed hind limbs allowed them to rear up and stand semi-upright to eat tree leaves. One of the more widely distributed ground sloths of North America, this genus is the only one to have been widely spread in Canada, extending into the Yukon and Alaska. The forelimbs of Megalonyx displayed three well-developed claws that were most likely used for stripping foliage or tearing down branches. The genus name, Megalonyx, was proposed by Thomas Jefferson who had received a gift of fossil sloth bones found in a cave in Greenbrier County, Virginia. Later, the species name, jeffersonii, was added in honor of the former president. Offered on a custom metal stand. Specimen measures 16 x 8 x 7in
Megalonyx jeffersonii Late Pleistocene Marion County, Florida Undoubtedly one of the finest examples of its kind yet discovered, all bones in this specimen were recovered in association and originate from the same animal. The specimen is a left foot, approximately 35,000 years old. Megalonyx lived from the Middle to Late Pleistocene, ranging throughout North America. These giant ground sloths weighed approximately 800 pounds, and could grow up to 8 to 10 feet long. Their flat-footed hind limbs allowed them to rear up and stand semi-upright to eat tree leaves. One of the more widely distributed ground sloths of North America, this genus is the only one to have been widely spread in Canada, extending into the Yukon and Alaska. The forelimbs of Megalonyx displayed three well-developed claws that were most likely used for stripping foliage or tearing down branches. The genus name, Megalonyx, was proposed by Thomas Jefferson who had received a gift of fossil sloth bones found in a cave in Greenbrier County, Virginia. Later, the species name, jeffersonii, was added in honor of the former president. Offered on a custom metal stand. Specimen measures 16 x 8 x 7in
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
