Synocnus

Taxobox
name = "Synocnus"


image_caption = "Synocnus comes"
fossil_range = Pleistocene
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
superordo = Xenarthra
ordo = Pilosa
familia = Megalonychidae
genus = †"Synocnus"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* †"S. comes"
* †"S. dousmani"

"Synocnus" was a genus of ground sloth that was about the size of a medium-sized dog and weighed approximately about 50 pounds. This animal lived in Haiti. "Synocnus" would have resembled a typical ground sloth, though much smaller, with a longer tail and a broad trunk, as well as lissome limbs and long claws. This sloth was known for having caudal vertebrae that were broad, a trait shared with other ground sloths, indicating that this animal, like the tamandua of today, likely used its tail to stand upright. The caniniform teeth of the "Synocnus" were large and triangular, and its skull was deep and had a large, sagittal crest which, when used with the deep mandible likely allowed strong exertion by the masticatory muscles.

The fossils of this sloth were found in Haitian cave deposits. It is conversely theorized that this sloth was killed off by humans seeking its pelt and meat. Currently, this species of sloth is being studied by evolutionary historians.Fact|date=August 2007 "Synocnus" was suspected of being semi-arboreal [White, J. 1993. Indicators of locomotor habits in Xenarthrans: Evidence for locomotor heterogeneity among fossil sloths. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 13(2): 230-242] .

References