Mylodontidae
Mylodontidae is a family of extinct mammals within the order of Pilosa and suborder Folivora living from approximately 23 mya—11,000 years ago, existing for approximately 22.89 million years.[1] This family of ground sloths is related to the other families of extinct ground sloths, being the Megatheriidae, the Nothrotheriidae, the Orophodontidae and the Scelidotheriidae. The only extant families of the suborder Folivora are the Bradypodidae and the Megalonychidae. Phylogenetic analyses using homologous sequences from all extant edentate groups indicates that the Mylodontidae were closer related to Megalonychidae than to Bradypodidae.[2]
The mylodontids together with their relatives the scelidotheriids and the orophodontids form the Mylodonta, the second radiation of ground sloths. The discovery of their fossils in caverns associated with human occupation lead some early researchers to theorize that the early humans built corrals when they could procure a young ground sloth, to raise the animal to butchering size.[3] However, radiocarbon dates do not support simultaneous occupation of the site by humans and sloths.[4] Subfossil remains like coproliths, fur and skin have been discovered in some quantities.
FAMILY †MYLODONTIDAE Gill, 1872
- Urumacotherium (incertae sedis)
- Subfamily Lestodontinae
- Tribe Thinobadistini
- Tribe Glossotheriini
- Tribe Lestodontini
- Subfamily Mylodontinae
- Genus Glossotheriopsis
- Genus Promylodon
- Genus Strabsodon
- Genus Megabradys
- Genus Pleurolestodon
- Genus Mylodon
References
- Cuvier, G. (1796): Notice sur le squellette d'une très grande espèce de quadrupède inconnue jusqu'à présent, trouvé au Paraquay, et déposé au cabinet d'histoire naturelle de Madrid. Magasin encyopédique, ou Journal des Sciences, des Lettres et des Arts (1): 303-310; (2): 227-228.
- De Iuliis, G. & Cartelle, C. (1999): A new giant megatheriine ground sloth (Mammalia: Xenarthra: Megatheriidae) from the late Blancan to early Irvingtonian of Florida. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 127(4): 495-515.
- Harrington, C.R. (1993): Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center - Jefferson's Ground Sloth. Retrieved 2008-JAN-24.
- Hogan, C.M. (2008): Cueva del Milodon, Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 2008-APR-13
- Kurtén, Björn and Anderson, Elaine (1980): Pleistocene Mammals of North America. Columbia University Press, New York. ISBN 0-231-03733-3
- McKenna, Malcolm C. & Bell, Susan K. (1997): Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press, New York. ISBN 0-231-11013-8
- Nowak, R.M. (1999): Walker's Mammals of the World (Vol. 2). Johns Hopkins University Press, London.
- White, J.L. (1993): Indicators of locomotor habits in Xenarthrans: Evidence for locomotor heterogeneity among fossil sloths. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 13(2): 230-242.
- White, J.L. & MacPhee, R.D.E. (2001): The sloths of the West Indies: a systematic and phylogenetic review. In: Woods, C.A. & Sergile, F.E. (eds.): Biogeography of the West Indies: Patterns and Perspectives: 201-235.
- Woodward, A.S. (1900): On some remains of Grypotherium (Neomylodon) listai and associated mammals from a cavern near Consuelo Cove, Last Hope Inlet. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1900(5): 64-79.
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