Part of Hall of Primitive Mammals.
Alvaro Keding & Daniel Kim/© AMNH
Giant ground sloths such as Lestodon lived in South America. There is evidence that ground sloths and early humans used the same caves, but not necessarily at the same time. Scientists are unsure whether it died out as early as 10–12,000 years ago or possibly survived into much later times.
Lestodon is considered an "armored mammal," as evidenced by the bony plates found in its skin.