🦕 Prehistoric World Map

Megathericulus fossil map

Where fossils of Megathericulus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 million years ago and on today’s map.

Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 15 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →

GroupEarly mammals
Lived16.3–7.246 million years ago (Burdigalian to Tortonian)
PeriodsNeogene
FamilyMegatheriidae
Named byAmeghino 1904
Fossil records16 occurrences at 8 locations (PBDB)
Found inArgentina, Bolivia, Peru, Chile
Rock formationsRío Mayo, txn:43608, Collón Curá, Ipururo, Río Frías

About Megathericulus

Megathericulus is an extinct genus of ground sloths in the Megatheriidae family. It lived during the Middle Miocene, 11-16 Ma in what is now South America. Fossils have been found principally in Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. It is a smaller representative of the megatheres. Despite being one of the earliest-known members of the family, its dentition structure is associated with homodont teeth belonging to the more modern line of evolution. The genus was scientifically named in 1904. Only one species is currently recognized, Megathericulus patagonicus.

Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Megathericulus (revision 1374534981), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q65241023.

More early mammals