Intact chisel tip shows no damage other than natural feeding wear caused when the beast was alive

LARGE COMPLETE PARAMYLODON GIANT GROUND SLOTH CANINE TOOTH

Leisey Shell Pit - Florida, U.S.A.

EARLY PLEISTOCENE PERIOD:  1.4 - 1 million years ago

This canine is an amazing specimen to handle and view in person.  The images do not truly capture the luster, beauty and detail of this massive canine.  The many unique anatomical features and corresponding detail is nothing short of remarkable!  Color is a natural jet black with slight brown undertones.  The angled faceted cutting edge is a result of wearing against an opposing canine in the lower jaw as the animal chewed.  The wear on the labial side is also from natural feeding and not a result of settlement or handling damage.  Not only is a specimen like this impossible to ever find for sale to the public in any condition, it is an exquisite and complete example.  For the advanced collector that takes pride in exhibiting atypical, non-commercial fossils of exceeding rarity, this specimen is an ABSOLUTE MUST!  

Despite its vastly higher degree of rarity than a claw, quality claws of this animal sell for over $800!!!  At a price of a claw, this complete and massive canine is a bargain and most probably the ONLY specimen you will ever see for sale!  If you own a claw of one of these massive sloths, this tooth is the largest primary tooth in the skull and definitely recommended to accompany a claw in display!

Paramylodon harlani was the larger of the two species of Mylodontid giant ground sloths to appear in North America during the Pliocene.  The main obvious trait of Mylodont molars are their tri-lobed form.  
The massive canine teeth wear against each other in the upper and lower jaw thereby continually sharpening into angular-faced chisels.  

Ground sloths were slow-moving herbivores that died out at the end of the Pleistocene Period.  They are survived today only by dog-sized tree-dwelling forms found in Central and South America.  Some prehistoric giant ground sloths grew as large as a modern elephant.  Giant ground sloths were so large that they were not able to climb trees, hence their land-roving lifestyle.  Giant sloths are related to armadillos, sharing similar designs in their blunt, deep skulls as well as their mandibles.  Their jaws were powered by very robust muscles for chewing vegetation and each jaw possessed three to five teeth.  Giant ground sloths possessed very large feet sporting massive claws.  Their claws were so large that they walked on the sides of their feet.  Sloths could stand on their hind legs aided by a very strong tail, to reach vegetation at levels higher than other herbivores could typically reach. 

Prehistoric Florida was home to three families of giant ground sloths - Mylodontidae, Megatheriidae and Megalonychidae.  It is theorized that sloths first entered North America through Florida, nine million years ago from the South American continent.  The first sloths in Florida (and North America) were the Mylodonts represented by two species of the genus Thinobadistes and the Megalonychids represented by the genus Pliometanastes.  Later in the Pliocene, sloths again entered Florida with two Mylodont species, Glossotherium chapadmalense and Paramylodon harlani, and with the Megalonychids genus, Megalonyx.  By the Early Pleistocene, the largest ground sloths appeared, the Megatheriidae with several species represented.  The largest ground sloth to have ever lived in North America is a member of this last group and is known as Eremotherium.  The male Eremotheriums grew to an estimated THREE TONS.  Giant ground sloths in North America went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene.

FIRST TIME EVER SEEN AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC MARKET

HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY, ULTRA-RARE AND COMPLETE WITH FAMOUS SITE PROVENANCE!

4.25" in length

SOLD     LM13-008     INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX     Actual Item - One Only

895