Sloth Family Tree (IMAGE)

University of York

Sloth Family Tree

Caption

Sloth group representatives:

In the tree, going clockwise from left: extinct West Indian sloth (Acratocnus), extant three-toed sloth or ai (Bradypus), and extant two-toed sloth or unau (Choloepus). From left to right on the ground are representative giant ground sloths: Mylodon (South America), Megalonyx (North America), and Megatherium (South America). According to new molecular studies, Bradypus is most closely related to a group that includes Megalonyx and Megatherium. Choloepus is related to Mylodon, but Acratocnus and its West Indian kin represent a separate branch that is distinct from that of all other sloths.

Human for scale: 1.8.5 m (6 ft 1 in).

Credit

Jorge Blanco

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