Could Giant Ground Sloths Survive Nowadays? скачать в хорошем качестве

Could Giant Ground Sloths Survive Nowadays?

Could Giant Ground Sloths Survive Nowadays? Megatherium was a prehistoric ground sloth. Its name comes from Greek, meaning great beast. And what a beast it was. One species, known as the Giant ground sloth Megatherium americanum, weighed up to 4 tons or 8,800 pounds. It measured 5 meters or 20 feet from head to tail and had a shoulder height when on all fours of 2.1 meters of 6 feet 11 inches. The genus survived in the Americas during the Pliocene and throughout the Pleistocene. They became extinct 12,000 years ago, along with much of America's megafauna. The giant ground sloth evolved in South America. Cut off from the other continents, the animals in this part of the world evolved into some incredible specimens that fascinate scientists today. When the Central American land bridge formed, 3 million years ago, the fauna was able to move between North and South America. As ground sloths migrated northwards, they gave rise to new species of sloth such as Megalonyx. A 10-foot, 2,200-pound animal that reached as far north as Alaska. Megatherium largely walked on all fours, on the sides of their feet. Their large claws prevented them from placing their feet flat on the ground. They could move on their hind legs and stand, using their tail for balance, to reach leaves and branches high up in the trees. Some suggest that, like modern-day elephants, Megatherium was hairless owning to its huge body size and propensity to overheat. Others depict it as having long, shaggy fur. Unlike today's sloths which are small in comparison and live in trees, the giant ground sloths, as their names suggest, presided on the ground. With the genus surviving and thriving for millions of years, the question arises, could megatherium survive nowadays? ➽Consider to subscribe:    / @factsmachine   ➽Audio: www.bensound.com, YouTube Audio Library ➽Contact: factsmachine.ro@gmail.com #megatherium #prehistoric #wildlife