Talk:Scelidotherium

The Xenarthra "missing link"
It is described that it had an ant-eater like skull and as its name (scelidotherium = beast with denticles) and its close relationship with mylodon suggests propably had some natural armor more or less like an armadillo. I know off course these traits are convergent but it could be a good example for the later specialization of all the xenarthran lineages especially being basal offshoot of the sloth lineage. --92.118.191.48 (talk) 05:15, 22 November 2008 (UTC)


 * What are you talking about? Seriously, I'm quite at a loss at to what the point of this talk post is about as any suggestion present is vague at best. Additionally, most fossil sloths are described as having an anteater-like head and I have NEVER seen anything to suggest the presence of dermal armor in this genus, especially as Scelidotherium (which I've seen to mean "leg beast") is not that closely related to Mylodon. These animals get their own subfamily, Scelidotherinae, whilst Mylodon is placed within the Mylodontinae.  As for Mylodontidae itself being a basal offshoot of the sloth lineage... see the orophodontids.