Description of Jefferson’s Ground Sloth (<em>Megalonyx jeffersonii</em>) from Acb-3 Cave, Colbert County, Alabama, with Comments on Ontogeny, Taphonomy, Pathology, and Paleoecology

<p>Excavations of ACb-3 Cave have uncovered the remains of at least seven individual <em>Megalonyx jeffersonii</em>, providing the most complete ontogenetic sequence of the taxon from one locality. Four individuals representing four distinct age classifications (infant, juvenile, subadult, and adult) were described and examined for pathologies. Cranial and major forelimb elements depict a change in morphology (trending from robust and stout to gracile and elongate) through ontogeny. Pathologies on the scapula and radius of the adult ground sloth indicate a potential attack from fighting or mating. The presence of infant and juvenile sloths suggests this cave may have been used as a maternity den. The nearly complete adult (RMM 5353) was compared to <em>Megalonyx</em> from other North American localities. Bivariate plots, created using linear measurements, showed that RMM 5353 was within the size range of <em>M. jeffersonii</em> and further supports the concept of <em>Megalonyx</em> chronospecies.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS (Master of Science)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - restricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geosciences

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Holte, Sharon Elizabeth

• geology
• ground sloth
• paleobiology
• Megalonyx
• ontogeny
• Alabama
• osteology
• paleontology
• cave
• Earth Sciences
• Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1436

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-2629