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Glite Dictionary
megatheriid

megatheriid

9.9
A very large ground sloth that lived in South and Central America and is now extinct
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛɡəˈθɛriɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : megaterio
  • The megatheriid was one of the largest terrestrial mammals of its time.

Examples

  • Scientists believe that megatheriids became extinct about 10,000 years ago.

  • Fossils of the megatheriid were discovered in Pleistocene deposits in South America.

  • The megatheriid fossils were discovered in Argentina.

  • Did you know that megatheriids were enormous creatures?

  • Fossils of the megatheriid were discovered in Pleistocene deposits in South America.

  • The megatheriid was one of the largest terrestrial mammals of its time.

  • Scientists believe that megatheriids became extinct about 10,000 years ago.

Synonyms

ground sloth
vsmegatheriid
  • US
1 9.6

A very large extinct mammal with long claws that lived on land in the Americas long ago

refers to a specific taxonomic family rather than the general sloth like group
Megatherium
vsmegatheriid
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very large extinct ground sloth from South America that lived long ago

refers to the broader family level rather than a single genus
megatherian
vsmegatheriid
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large extinct ground sloth that lived in South America long ago

extends its range into Central America as well as South America
megatherian mammal
vsmegatheriid
  • Specialized
9.9

A large extinct ground sloth from South America that lived during the Ice Age

covers the whole Cenozoic era rather than only the Pleistocene
megathere
vsmegatheriid
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large extinct animal like a ground sloth that lived in ancient America

covers the full Cenozoic era rather than only those later epochs

Surface Forms

megatheriid singular
megatheriids plural

Morphology

megatheriid = Megatheriidae (opaque) = megatheri + id

Formed from a scientific genus/family name with the specialist suffix '-id'; this taxonomic formation is not transparent to average learners despite recognisable parts.

Etymology

The word megatheriid comes from Greek parts mega- meaning 'large' and therion meaning 'beast'. A helpful way to remember megatheriid is that it literally means 'large beast', which fits the giant ground sloths that lived in South and Central America.