Ancient species of giant sloth discovered:

Ancient species of giant sloth discovered:

Mexican scientists have discovered the fossilised remains of a previously unknown species of giant sloth that lived 10,000 years ago and died at the bottom of a sinkhole.

Context:

• Mexican scientists have discovered the fossilised remains of a previously unknown species of giant sloth that lived 10,000 years ago and died at the bottom of a sinkhole.

Explanation:

• The remains were found in 2010, but were so deep inside the water-filled sinkhole that researchers were only gradually able to piece them together.
• Scientists have so far hauled up the skull, jawbone, and a mixed bag of vertebrae, ribs, claws and other bones, but the rest of the skeleton remains some 50 metres under water.
• They have named the new species Xibalbaonyx oviceps .
• An initial analysis suggests that the sloth lived between 10,647 and 10,305 years ago, an era when giant creatures of all kinds roamed the earth.