Hapalops

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Hapalops
Fossil range: Late Oligocene
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Xenarthra
Family: Megatheriidae
Genus: Hapalops
Species
  • H. indifferens
  • H. longicers
  • H. longipes
  • H. latus
  • H. cadens
  • H. congermanus
  • H. gallaicus

Hapalops indifferens is an extinct genus of ground sloth.

Though related to the giant Megatherium, Hapalops was much smaller, measuring about 1 m (3 ft 4 inches) in length. While it is classified as a ground sloth, Hapalops probably lived in trees most of their lives. It had a robust body, short skull and long limbs with large, curved claws. When it did visit the ground the animal probably walked on the knuckles of its forelimbs, like a gorilla. Hapalops lived during the late Oligocene, approximately 25 million years ago. Hapalops had very few teeth with no incisors, the mandible included only four pairs of teeth.[1] It is likely that this animal's metabolism was very slow[citation needed].

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.grupopaleo.com.ar/miramarprehistorica/miohapalops.htm
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