Paramylodon

Paramylodon is an extinct genus of ground sloth. It was endemic to North America in the Pliocene, and to the end of the Pleistocene epoch. It lived from around ~4.9 million years ago (mya) to 11,000 years ago.

Paramylodon Temporal range: Pliocene-Late Pleistocene (Blancan-Rancholabrean) ~
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Skeleton in San Diego
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Superorder:	Xenarthra
Order:	Pilosa
Family:	†Mylodontidae
Subfamily:	†Mylodontinae
Tribe:	†Mylodontini
Genus:	†Paramylodon Brown 1903
Species:	†P. harlani Owen 1840

Paramylodon was about 3 m (9.8 ft) in height and weighted as much as 1089 kg. It is known from deposits in the United States, Mexico and as far south as Guatemala.

There is just one recognized species, P. harlani, (Owen) 1840, which is commonly referred to as Harlan's ground sloth in honor of the American paleontologist who first discovered and described a lower jaw in 1835.

Like the South American Mylodon, Paramylodon had dermal ossicles: small bones embedded in the skin. This made it harder for predators if they attacked from behind. Its skull and teeth suggest it was, like the other members of its group, a browser on leaves and small branches. It ate standing on its hind legs and using its huge hands to pull the vegetation into its mouth. Skeletons found in the La Brea tar pits were more or less complete.

Paramylodon Media

• Harlan 1831 finds of Paramylodon.jpg

  The first fossil finds of Paramylodon published by Richard Harlan in 1831

• Harlan Richard 1796-1843.png

  Portrait of Richard Harlan (1796-1843), half-length, left pose, full face, engraved by Michele Pekenino after a painting by Jacob Eichholtz, The United States National Library of Medicine collection * NLM Unique ID: 101417795 * NLM Image ID: B013872

• A new Mylodon (Plate 1) BHL4368870.jpg

  Skull of Mylodon garmani, a synonym of Paramylodon harlani

• Skulls of Mylodon (top) and Glossotherium (bottom)

• BarnumBrown Student.jpg

  Class portrait of Barnum Brown as it appeared in the 1897 yearbook of the University of Kansas

• Paramylodon by Cheverlange.jpg

  Restoration by M. Elie Cheverlange, 1931

• Paramylodon at Field Museum.jpg

  Skeletal remains of Paramylodon

• Paramylodon harlani ground sloth (La Brea Asphalt, Upper Pleistocene; Rancho La Brea, Los Angeles, southern California, USA) 7 (15444177065).jpg

  Skeleton of Paramylodon with hands visible

• Environment of what is now White Sands National Park, with Paramylodon drinking in the left background