Lestodon

Part of Hall of Primitive Mammals.

Denis Finnin/© AMNH

Location

Floor 4

Giant ground sloths such as Lestodon lived in South America and became extinct 30,000 years ago. There is evidence that ground sloths and early humans used the same caves, but not necessarily at the same time.

Lestodon is considered an "armored mammal," as evidenced by the bony plates found in its skin.