Glossotherium

Taxobox
name = "Glossotherium"
fossil_range = late Pliocene to Pleistocene


image_width = 250px
image_caption = Skeleton of "Glossotherium robustum", a fossil sloth American Museum of Natural History in New York
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Xenarthra
familia = †Mylodontidae
genus = †"Glossotherium"
genus_authority = Owen, 1840 "Glossotherium" (literally "Tongue Beast") was a genus of ground sloth. It had a length of about 13 feet (4 m.) snout to tail-tip, and could potentially assume a slight bipedal stance.

Fossils of this animal have been found in South America. It is closely related to "Paramylodon" of North America, whose specimens have often been confused and assigned to "Glossotherium". The earliest "Glossotherium" specimens are known from the Pliocene of South America and are represented by the species, "G. chapadmalense". All specimens of Pleistocene age are typically lumped into "G. robustum" and a few other questionable species. Further research is needed at the species level.

Due to its size and strength, "Glossotherium" would have had few natural enemies Apart from Sabre-Toothed Cats Such as "Smilodon". It is believed to have died out sometime during the Pleistocene (1.8 million - 12,000 years ago).