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465 / Cenozoic
Megalocnus
Megalocnus rodens
A bear-sized Caribbean ground sloth survived near the period of human arrival.
- Time range
- About 5 million–4,200 years ago
- Final stage
- Holocene
- Geographic range
- Forest and open woodland · Cuba
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Megalocnus?
Megalocnus (Megalocnus rodens) was an extinct organism known from About 5 million–4,200 years ago, with a range in Forest and open woodland · Cuba.
Life and ecology
It walked slowly on all fours and ate leaves and fruit without large native predators.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Megalocnus disappear?
Climate, habitat and human activity may all have contributed.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Megalocnus?
Skeletons, cave deposits and radiocarbon dates constrain size and last appearance.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS