Discovered 22 giant sloths preserved in their own feces

Giant generations of sloths died of apparent hypoxia, after gathering at a swamp at a time in the late Ice Age.

At the end of the ice age, a multi-generational group of at least 22 giant sloths (Eremotherium laurillardi) died for some reason, and was subsequently permanently preserved in an area along the west coast. south of Ecuador called Tanque Loma .

Fossils of these sloths are permanently preserved in an area along Ecuador's southwest coast called Tanque Loma.

Now extinct, the giant sloths were common in the fourth century, an era that lasted 2.6 million years ago or about the same time, and little is known about behavior. individuals of this species as well as their social structure.

Published in the journal Geography, Paleontology, Paleontology , the graveyard of these giant sloths was found in a place called the asphalt area. Ancient flora and fauna have been discovered in about 12 asphalt areas, also known as 'asphalt lakes', around the world. Asphalt naturally penetrates, acting as a local preservative, preserving bones and other materials.

'The pits of asphalt are very fascinating, and perhaps Rancho La Brea is the most famous fossil spot in the world, but, despite having more than a century of research, we know we have only scratched the surface. Its only ', Dr. Emily Lindsey, author of the study, shared. Lindsey is the curatorial assistant and construction director at La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles.

While asphalt areas are rare, they can preserve both the enormous number and diversity of fossils, making the discovery of these areas a scientific priority. Asphalt pits are one of the only forms of fossilized sites where we can find remnants of entire preserved ecosystems - from leaves, bones, large mammals, to insects. Small worms, nuts, shells.

Therefore, they are extremely valuable for paleontologists who are investigating important topics such as evolution, paleontology, and climate change, and they are especially important in areas where areas such as Central and South America ecological areas, where the fossils of Pleistocene are still scattered.

A life-size description of mammoth trapped in asphalt is on display at La Brea asphalt lake in Los Angeles

Scientists have unearthed Tanque Loma and conducted radiocarbon dating, which is conservatively estimated that most of the sloth's bones date from 18,000 to 23,000 years ago. Sediment, geochemical, and histological data were also collected, showing anaerobic environment, meaning oxygen deprivation and potentially a marsh water environment that has experienced periodic drought.

Such mass graveyards may occur gradually or from a catastrophic event, setting three hypotheses about this death. At first, the researchers thought that the Tanque Loma may have acted as a pool of water that animals often frequented for a long time and died for many reasons.

Based on the accumulation of remains, the different ages of individuals, and the presence of very large amounts of manure suitable for the plants that these animals ate, the researchers believed that the animals This giant died in the same event.

It is possible that these gigantic sloths died instantly due to selective hunting - be it human or other predatory - or a geological event, like a volcanic eruption. or flooding. Most likely, these sloths lived in a drought-stricken area, became ill and seriously ill, and sought this puddle to escape danger, and continued to weaken before dying.

The authors concluded that: 'this event of death may be the result of drought and / or lagoons-borne illness, the same situation observed in hippos populations in puddle of puddle in modern day Africa ".

However, they are dead, these giant sloths offer a deeper insight into how these mysterious creatures lived, and their dramatic deaths. Also found in the graveyard are five other large mammals, including a sloth, mylodont, an elephant-like gomphothere, a pamphadere - a relative of the ancient apricot tatu, as well as a horse and a deer.

The remains of a giant sloth are described climbing a tree, Lon Don Natural History Museum.

Lindsey suggests that the discoveries we make in the asphalt pits help to better understand how past species and ecosystems responded to climate change at the end of the Pleistocene and other human activity - processes that once again impact the Earth today.

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