Glossotherium
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Extinct (fossil)
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Glossotherium was a genus of ground sloth. It had a length of about 13 feet (4 m.) and could stand upright.
Fossils of this animal have been found on both North and South America. The difference between the two varieties of fossils found in South America (for example, in Argentina) are older; South America was where Glossatherium originated. About 3 million years ago, which was during the Pliocene, Glossotherium migrated north and entered the North American continent. Fossils of the Glossotherium have been found in various states of the U.S., such as California, Arizona, and Florida. A significant number of fossils of Glossotherium harlani have been found in the La Brea tar pits of California. Some Glossotherium chapadmalense fossils have been discovered in several locations, such as Jefferson County, Florida. The food of Glossotherium and its relatives was mainly vegetation. However, it is believed that they occasionally ate meat.
Due to its size and strength, Glossotherium would have had few natural enemies. It is believed to have died out sometime during the Pleistocene (2 million - 10,000 years ago).
