About Megatherium

Megatherium was the largest giant ground sloth. He was a slow-moving herbivore with peg-like teeth, powerful jaws, and a thick, short tail. It had three hook-like claws on each hand and primarily walked on four legs. It ate leaves from the tree tops while standing on its hind legs and used its tail for balance. It was about 20 feet long and weighed approximately 4 tons.

Megatherium was named by R. Owen in 1856. The first Megatherium fossil was found in Brazil in 1789. Megatherium lived in South America and went extinct about 11,000 years ago.