Megalonyx jeffersonii
Jefferson’s Ground Sloth
West Virginia State Fossil
Juvenile Skull Cast Replica
Measurements: 11" L × 9" H × 6.5" W
This Megalonyx jeffersonii ground sloth juvenile skull is a high-quality cast replica molded from original fossils discovered in Florida.
The skull and jaw are cast separately, allowing the jaw to remain movable rather than permanently attached.
Please call (314) 556-0650 or email us for additional photos or information.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Superorder: Xenarthra
Order: Pilosa
Family: Megalonychidae (Gervais, 1855)
Subfamily: Megalonychinae
Genus: Megalonyx (Jefferson, 1799)
Species within the genus include:
Megalonyx matthisi (Hirschfeld & Webb, 1963)
Megalonyx wheatleyi (Cope, 1871)
Megalonyx leptostomus (Cope, 1893)
Megalonyx jeffersonii (Desmarest, 1822)
In 1797, saltpeter miners discovered large fossil bones in a cave in Monroe County, Virginia (now West Virginia) and sent them to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson initially believed the bones belonged to a giant prehistoric cat.
In 1799, anatomist Caspar Wistar reexamined the fossils and identified them as belonging to an extinct giant ground sloth, naming the genus Megalonyx in honor of Jefferson.
Radiocarbon dating has since shown that these animals lived more than 38,000 years ago.
Megalonyx jeffersonii was designated the official State Fossil of West Virginia in March 2008.
Additional Information
Skull and jaw cast separately
Jaw remains movable
Color may vary
Custom painting available
This item is not kept in stock. Please inquire about production time.
Please call (314) 556-0650 or email us for more pictures or information