Inferring the paleoecology of the Late Pleistocene giant ground sloths from the Brazilian Intertropical Region

Abstract

This paper provides diet interpretations for nine giant ground sloth species that lived in the Brazilian Intertropical Region, through the relative muzzle width technique and occlusal surface area (except Mylodonopsis ibseni). We propose that Eremotherium laurillardi, Ocnotherium giganteum, Mylodonopsis ibseni, Glossotherium phoenesis, Catonyx cuvieri, Valgipes bucklandi, Ahytherium aureum, and Australonyx aquae were adapted to had a mixed-feeder diet, having a great oral food processing, which could indicate an adaptation to need less from the fermentation on digestive tract, and similar, or even higher, metabolic requirements in comparison with ungulates of similar body mass. While, N. maquinense was adapted to a browser diet, and probably presented high fermetantion capability and low metabolic requirement, in comparison with all other giant ground sloth taxa.