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“Within the tissues of their thick skin, these animals developed these hard balls as a defense strategy against attacks from predators,” museum director Jose Luis Aguilar said.
Prehistoric sloth skin#
The dermis is the layer of skin that lies just below the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis. The researchers said in a statement on the museum’s Facebook page that “a significant amount of tiny dermal bones strengthening the skin of certain giant sloths was discovered” at the site. (Paleontological Museum of San Pedro/Zenger) The tiny bones are 20,000 years old, and researchers say they were embedded in the skin of some prehistoric giant sloths. (Paleontological Museum of San Pedro/Zenger) Paleontologists found hundreds of pieces of bone between 2 and 12 millimeters in diameter in San Pedro, Argentina. Based on the fossil evidence, the scientists inferred that the environment was a tropical savannah, with tall grasses and occasional trees. They also identified unexplored fossil sites and opportunities for modern ecological studies at these unusual geological phenomena.Paleontologists found hundreds of pieces of bone between 2 and 12 millimeters in diameter in San Pedro, Argentina. The researchers reported 68 specimens, including giant ground sloths, giant armadillo-like creatures, ancient elephant-like animals, and rodents. One review compiled findings from the past century of discovery at asphalt seeps in Trinidad. Three recent papers reveal the ways in which these rich paleontological deposits can unlock the secrets of Ice Age creatures and climates. Emily Lindsey, Assistant Curator and Site Director at La Brea Tar Pits “By partnering with institutions working at tar pits around the world, and empowering local scientists and communities to study these sites, we can discover how global change played out on multiple continents, and generate greater connections with the past, present, and future of these ecosystems we all depend on.”ĭr. The project aims to provide student training and support to regional scientific institutions while also developing education and outreach programs for local communities. Project (Bridging Research and Education at Asphaltic Sites) as a unique opportunity to study asphaltic fossil assemblages in different contexts and continents, and to foster collaborations with scientists around the world. Researchers from La Brea Tar Pits launched The B.R.E.A.S. Each site yields new discoveries and gives scientists rare insight into past ecosystems. This is especially crucial in places like the neotropics, where Ice Age fossils aren’t usually found. These fossil treasure troves are uniquely valuable to scientists because they preserve many different kinds of fossils (and lots of them!). While Rancho La Brea in Los Angeles is known around the world for its thousands of saber-toothed cats and unique active excavation site, asphaltic deposits or "tar pits" are actually found in a number of countries throughout the Americas and beyond.