Unearth the Secrets of Prehistoric North America: Giant Sloths, Camels, and American Cheetahs
Long before the United States came to exist, North America was populated with giant and exotic creatures that are now extinct. Time travelers visiting the continent tens of thousands of years ago might have come face-to-face with animals towering sloths and even a cheetah.
Here are three of the creatures you might have found while wandering across North America in prehistoric times.
GIANT SLOTH
Officially known as Megalonyx, this giant great sloth would have dwarfed any ancient human. They reached up to 9.8 feet in length and could weigh as much as 2,200 pounds. Its range spanned most of the United States as it stands today and would have even extended to Alaska in warm periods.
The Megalonyx is famous for having been originally described by yet-to-be-president Thomas Jefferson in 1799. He described remains found in West Virginia with the species Megalonyx jeffersonii named in honor of him. The giant ground sloth would have lived from around 5 million years ago before it died out roughly 13,000 years ago. This was around the same time that woolly mammoths and saber-tooth cats went extinct.
CAMELOPS
Camelops is a long-extinct genus of large camels that lived in both North and Central America. In fact, it even reached as far north as Alaska. Camelops first appeared at some point between three and four million years ago – and then died out around 13,000 years ago. They reached up to 7 feet tall at their shoulder and – like the Megalonyx – could weigh up to 2,200 pounds. Despite being associated with Asia and Africa today, the Camelidae family of animals – including modern camels and llamas – originated in North America around 44 million years ago.
AMERICAN CHEETAH
The American cheetah – or Miracinonyx, as scientists would call it – is a now-extinct cat genus. They were endemic to North America between 2.5 million and 16,000 to 12,000 years ago. And scientists think the 150-pound cats were very similar to modern cheetah. The genus is generally considered to have two species: M. inexpectatus and M. trumani. M. inexpectatus is believed to have come first, was more cougar-like, and may have lived alongside (and competed with) jaguars and saber-toothed cats.
Meanwhile, M. trumani was more cheetah-like, but with fully retractable claws (unlike the modern kind). It’s believed to have hunted running prey like pronghorn and horses, as well as sheep and goats. Miracinonyx fossils have been found in several states across the United States.
Uncover the fascinating history of these magnificent creatures that once roamed the lands of North America. Explore their lives, habitats, and ultimate demise, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of prehistoric life on the continent.