Xenarthra Collection

Ground sloth droppings or coprolite
Ground sloth (Mylodon darwinii) fossilised droppings or coprolite, 13, 000 year old specimen from the Pleistocene, Chile

Megatherium, giant ground sloth
Skeleton of an extinct creature that roamed cool, dry, scrub and grasslands of South America 100, 000 years ago. On display at the Natural History Museum, London

Great Irish Elk, Megatherium
Original artwork by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, donated by his granddaughter Mary Hawkins

Restorations of animals from Tertiary period
Original artwork by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, donated by his granddaughter Mary Hawkins

Giant Ground Sloth, Natural History Museum
Photograph of a Skeleton of the Giant Ground Sloth (Megatherium Americanum). July 1902. Archive ref: PH/173/244 Date: 1902

Megatherium and Glyptodon
Sheet 5 of a series of posters by Waterhouse Hawkins c. 1862 showing Megatherium and Glyptodon. Date: circa 1862

Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Giant Anteater, side view

Smilodon dirk-toothed cats attacking a Glossotherium during the Pleistocene Epoch (Ice Age) of North America

Sketch by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
Original artwork by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, donated by his granddaughter Mary Hawkins

Dasypus novemcinctus, Nine-banded armadillo
Hand coloured lithograph by John James Audubon from The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, 1848. Date: 1848

Glyptotherium arizonae, a North American megafauna
Glyptotherium arizonae, a glyptodontid from the Pleistocene megafauna of North America

A large Glyptodon stands near the edge of a stream. Glyptodons were giant cousins of the armadillo that lived in South and Central America during the last ice age

A large glyptodont from the Pleistocene epoch
The Glyptodont lived during the Pleistocene epoch and carried around a protective carapace like the present day turtle. Its tail may have been used to protect itself from predators or for mating

A Doedicurus glyptodont compared to modern armadillos
A glyptodont of the genus Doedicurus from 25, 000 years ago is compared to modern armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus). Doedicurus is five feet tall, weighs about 2, 200 pounds

Prehistoric glyptodonts graze on grassy plains. An Eremotherium is in the background
Prehistoric glyptodonts of the genus Doedicurus graze on grassy plains 25, 000 years ago in what is today South America. In the background is a giant ground sloth of the genus Eremotherium

Megatherium animal from the Pleistocene epoch of South America
Megatherium americanum from the Pleistocene epoch of South America

Eremotherium portrait on white background. Eremotherium was one of the largest ground sloths that lived in North and South America in the Pleistocene Period

Eremotherium ground sloth, side view. Eremotherium was one of the largest ground sloths that lived in North and South America in the Pleistocene Period

Glyptodont is a large mammal that lived during the Pleistocene epoch
Glyptodont is a large herbivorous mammal that lived during the Pleistocene epoch of North and South America

Eremotherium approaches a pair of Arctodus grazing on trees. Eremotherium was a giant ground sloth of North and South America that lived 800, 000 to 11, 000 years ago

Peltephilus is a xenarthran mammal from the Miocene epoch of Argentina

TTSL, 008, Rolf N, Three-toed Sloth
Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Bradypus variegatus, male, Manuel Antonio National Park, Central Pacific Coast, Costa Rica, Central America

TTSL, 061, Rolf N, Three-toed Sloth
Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Bradypus variegatus, male, Manuel Antonio National Park, Central Pacific Coast, Costa Rica, Central America

Choloepus didactylus, Two-toed sloth, hanging from branch, order Edentata is called Xenarthra now

Lemur skulls C016 / 6150
Lemur skulls. Two skulls showing the diversity of lemurs on Madagascar

Ground sloth skin C016 / 6151
Ground sloth skin. Skin from the extinct ground sloth (Mylodon darwinii). This is a 13, 000 year old specimen from the Pleistocene, found in Chile

Giant ground sloth skin
Ground sloth skin. Skin from the extinct ground sloth (Mylodon darwinii). This is a 13, 000 year old specimen from the Pleistocene, found in Chile

Mylodon
Illustration (p.140) from Charles Darwins Journal of Researches, first illustrated edition 1890

Mylodon darwinii, ground sloth
Jaw bone collected by Charles Darwin when he stepped off the Beagle in Argentina. First officially recorded by Richard Owen, the first Superintendent of the Museum

Megatherium americanum, giant ground sloth

Tail of a Glyptodon
The Glyptodon, a massive fully armoured mammal that lived during the Pleistocene period. Remains have been discovered in Argentina

Tortoise and armadillo comparison
A really strange picture, reminds me of 1960s New York art

Waterhouse Way, the Natural History Museum
Children in Waterhouse Way looking at the Megatherium, or giant sloth skeleton, Gallery 20, Life Galleries at the Natural History Museum, London

Glyptodon claipes specimen on display in the Central Hall at the Natural History Museum, London. It was the most armoured of all the ice age mammals

Mylodon darwinii, ground sloth toenails
13, 000 year old specimens of ground sloth toenails dating from the Pleistocene, Chile

Ground sloth skin
Skin of the extinct ground sloth (Mylodon darwinii). This is a 13, 000 year old specimen from the Pleistocene, Chile

Megatherium skeleton
Plate 72 from Le Regne Animal Vol 2 by Georges Cuvier

Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) Florida

Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) adult, running in open savannah, Rupununi, Guyana

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Xenarthra, a diverse group of mammals known for their unique characteristics and fascinating history. One notable member of this ancient lineage is the Megatherium, a giant ground sloth that roamed the Earth during the Pleistocene epoch. With its massive size and powerful claws, it was truly an awe-inspiring creature. Another remarkable species from this family is the Great Irish Elk, which despite its name, was not actually an elk but rather a majestic deer with enormous antlers. These magnificent creatures once graced the landscapes of Ireland and Europe before becoming extinct thousands of years ago. If you visit the Natural History Museum today, you might come across an impressive display featuring the remains of a Giant Ground Sloth or perhaps even encounter artifacts related to Megatherium and Glyptodon. These exhibits offer glimpses into our planet's past and allow us to marvel at these ancient giants. In South America, one cannot miss spotting Myrmecophaga tridactyla - better known as the Giant Anteater - with its long snout perfectly adapted for slurping up ants and termites from their nests. A side view reveals just how uniquely designed this creature is for its specialized diet. But what about evidence left behind by these incredible animals? Ground sloth droppings or coprolites have been discovered in various locations around the world, providing valuable insights into their diets and behaviors millions of years ago. Thanks to scientific research and artistic restorations, we can now visualize what these extraordinary animals looked like during their time in history. Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins' sketches bring back to life Restorations of animals from Tertiary period – allowing us to appreciate their grandeur once more. While Xenarthra encompasses many fascinating species such as Dasypus novemcinctus (Nine-banded armadillo) or Smilodon dirk-toothed cats attacking a Glossotherium.