Ground Sloth - Steven E Fields - Bog

"Megalonyx" is one of the most widely distributed taxa of ground sloths in North America. Numerous Pleistocene sites contain isolated fossil elements. However, most fossils are of late Rancholabrean age, and relatively few "Megalonyx" fossils have been found in the southeastern United States outside of Florida. This work is unique because it describes more than 250 fossil elements from a single site of Irvingtonian age in South Carolina. It also includes detailed measurements of all teeth and postcranial elements. Morphometrics offers insights into hypsodonty and body mass, and comparisons with other "Megalonyx" across space and time suggest a need to revisit the current taxonomy. Illustrations.