Ground sloth skeleton on a pedestal with sign. It reads Harlan's ground sloth Paramylodon harlani At around 1,500 pounds and over nine feet in length, the Harlan's ground sloth was considered a medium-sized ground sloth. The largest species could be nearly 20 feet in length! Sloths' powerful arms and claws may have been used to dig roots and tubers (they were herbivores) and for self-protection. The living relatives of these ancient giants include armadillos and small tree sloths.
The largest animal found in the tar pits, a Columbian mammoth skeleton (Mammuthus columbi) from 1.6 million to 10,000 years ago on a pedestal with a low black fence surrounding it
Section of the wall of dire wolf skulls silhouetted against an illuminated orange background. The dire wolves are the most common animal found in the pits and there are 400 skulls in the total wall display out of the 3,600 individual dire wolfs found in the pits.
A look down into Pit 91, “an active fossil dig where scientists are uncovering everything from small plant seeds to giant ground sloths. From the Viewing Station, you can see deep into Pit 91 where thousands of bones of extinct animals like the western horse, saber-tooth cat, and dire wolf are jumbled together in pools of sticky asphalt.” It is covered in a wooded canopy and its walls are supported by scaffolding
The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum of LA are absolutely incredible! It’s like visiting an amazing native plant collection but for #megafauna 🤯🤯🤯 #labrea #labreatarpits #labreatarpitsmuseum #groundsloth #colombianmammoth #direwolf #tarpit #pit91
