An aquatic sloth?
Skull of Thalassocnus yaucensis, sp. nov., holotype, MUSM 37 in lateral (A), ventral (B), dorsal (C), views; mandible in lateral left (D) and dorsal (E) views.
Carl Zimmer has the details. This is very cool—yet another series of transitional fossils, showing a set of Peruvian sloths, of all things, that adapted to an aquatic lifestyle over the course of several million years.
4 Comments
Reed A. Cartwright · 22 June 2004
PZ,
What paper is that figure from?
PZ Myers · 22 June 2004
That figure is from:
De Muizon C, McDonald G, Salas R, Urbina M (2004) The youngest species of the aquatic sloth Thalassocnus and a reassessment of the relationships of the nothrothere sloths (Mammalia: Xenartha). J Vert Paleo 24(2)387-397.
T. Russ · 22 June 2004
Are there any disputes or disagreements about this fossil in the literature? Do all paleontologist consider this fella to be clearly transitional?
T. Russ · 23 June 2004
Hello?