noun
- Plural of mylodon; extinct ground sloths of the Pleistocene epoch, native to South America, characterized by large size and powerful claws.
Usage: paleontology; plural form; scientific/technical term
Examples
- Mylodons were massive herbivorous mammals that roamed South America during the Pleistocene.
- Fossils of mylodons have been discovered in caves throughout Argentina and Chile.
- Unlike modern tree sloths, mylodons were ground-dwelling creatures with enormous claws.
- Scientists study mylodon remains to understand the megafauna of ancient South America.
- The extinction of mylodons occurred thousands of years ago, possibly due to climate change and human hunting.