What is Paramylodon?
{{Italic title}} {{Taxobox | name = ''Paramylodon'' | fossil_range = [[Pliocene]]-[[Late Pleistocene]] ([[Blancan]]-[[Rancholabrean]])<br />~{{fossil range|4.9|0.011}} | image = San Diego Paramylodon.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Skeleton in San Diego | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | superordo = [[Xenarthra]] | ordo = [[Pilosa]] | familia = †[[Mylodontidae]] | subfamilia = †[[Mylodontinae]] | tribus = {{extinct}}[[Mylodontini]] | genus = [[extinction|†]]'''''Paramylodon''''' | genus_authority = [[Barnum Brown|Brown]] 1903 | species = †''P. harlani'' [[Richard Owen|Owen]] 1840 }} '''''Paramylodon''''' is an [[extinct]] [[genus]] of [[ground sloth]]. It was endemic to [[North America]] in the [[Pliocene]], and to the end of the [[Pleistocene]] epoch. It lived from around ~4.9 million years ago (mya) to 11,000 years ago. ''Paramylodon'' was about 3 m (9.8 ft) in height and weighted as much as 1089 kg.<ref>Extinct Ground Sloth [http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/_extinct/sloth_extinct/extinct_sloth.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214074751/http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/_extinct/sloth_extinct/extinct_sloth.htm |date=2015-02-14 }}</ref> It is known from deposits in the [[United States]], [[Mexico]] and as far south as [[Guatemala]]. There is just one recognized species, ''P. harlani'', (Owen) 1840, which is commonly referred to as Harlan's ground sloth in honor of the American paleontologist who first discovered and described a lower jaw in 1835. Like the [[South America]]n ''[[Mylodon]]'', ''Paramylodon'' had dermal ossicles: small bones embedded in the skin. This made it harder for predators if they attacked from behind. Its skull and teeth suggest it was, like the other members of its group, a browser on leaves and small branches. It ate standing on its hind legs and using its huge hands to pull the vegetation into its mouth. Skeletons found in the [[La Brea tar pits]] were more or less complete. == References ==