Australonyx is an extinct genus of ground sloths, endemic to South America during the Late Pleistocene. It was found in Brazil.

Discovery

The holotype specimen was recovered from Poço Azul, an underwater cave system in Nova Redenção, Bahia state. (The same cave also yielded remains of another extinct sloth species, Ahytherium.) The specimen was well preserved, consisting of both the front and back half of the skull (but missing the midsection), the mandible, most of the spine, and some elements from the limbs. Additionally, a nearly identical almost complete skull from Rondônia can be referred to this species.

Australonyx

Ecology

Australonyx is suggested to have been a mixed feeder (both browsing and grazing).

Australonyx

References

Prehistoric sloths

Pleistocene xenarthrans

Prehistoric placental genera

Holocene extinctions

Pleistocene mammals of South America

Lujanian

Pleistocene Brazil

Fossils of Brazil

Fossil taxa described in 2009

Australonyx