Page 179 - The Dinosaur Book and Other Wonders of the Prehistoric World (DK-Smithsonian)

Thalassocnus
was adapted for
swimming in shallow
waters and probably
ate seaweed.

Megalonyx
Thalassocnus
Megatherium
used its long arms
to pull leafy branches
down to its mouth. Megatherium

The bulky body
contained a big
digestive system
for processing large
quantities of leafy food.

It reared up on its
hind limbs to feed.

The big feet and massive leg
bones supported the sloth’s
considerable weight as it fed.

connected. Over the course of 66 million years Biggest of all was the giant ground sloth
until the end of the last ice age, they gave rise to Megatherium, a specialized leaf-eater that
some spectacular animals. These included the grew to the size of an Indian elephant. Able
enormous, armadillolike plant-eater Glyptodon to rear up on its hind legs to reach high into
and the heavily armed Doedicurus, which were the trees, it gathered food with its long front
both protected from predators by bony armor. claws and mobile lips. 177

US_176-177_Giant_sloths_and_armadillos.indd 177 10/04/18 3:35 PM