How did Mylodon and Lestodon differ as giant ground sloths?

Mylodon and Lestodon were both extinct genera of large ground sloths belonging to the family Mylodontidae in South America. While Mylodon reached lengths of 3 to 4 meters and weighed 1 to 2 tonnes, it was considerably smaller than the massive Lestodon. Both genera ultimately disappeared during the end-Pleistocene extinction event alongside other American megafauna.

What we know

• Mylodon is an extinct genus of ground sloth belonging to the family Mylodontidae, known primarily from southern South America. [5]
• Mylodon reached a total length of 3 to 4 meters and a body mass of 1 to 2 tonnes, making it one of the largest mylodontids. [5]
• Lestodon considerably exceeded Mylodon in body size. [5]
• The largest ground sloths overall belonged to the genera Lestodon, Eremotherium, and Megatherium, which approached the size of modern elephants. [2]

Still open

• Some recent authors suggest there were two distinct species of Mylodon, dividing the remains between M. darwini and M. listai, rather than recognizing only a single species.

Where to go next

• how we knowWhat did Mylodon eat based on preserved dung?
• compared withHow do Mylodontidae compare to Megatheriidae?
• whereCueva del Milodon Natural Monument
• what caused itThe end-Pleistocene extinction event in the Americas
• the bigger pictureGround sloths
• an unexpected connectionHow is Charles Darwin linked to the discovery of Mylodon?Charles Darwin collected the initial remains of Mylodon in the Pampas during the Voyage of the Beagle, which Richard Owen subsequently used to describe the species.

Sources

• [1]ground sloth (Wikidata Q933583) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Ground sloth · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Eremotherium · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]2021 in paleomammalogy · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Mylodon · CC BY-SA 4.0