Extant tree sloths fall into two groups that are not closely related, and which do not form a clade; two-toed sloths are much more closely related to some extinct ground sloths than to three-toed sloths.
12.
As a result, there are many versions of the phylogenetic tree that would describe the evolution and relationship between sloths, most of which conclude that convergent evolution is the likely mechanism that resulted in today s genera of tree sloths.
13.
Megalonychid ground sloths became extinct in North and South America around the end of the Pleistocene, and in the Antilles apparently by about 5000 two-toed tree sloths of genus " Choloepus " as the only surviving members of the family.
14.
Despite a couple of discrepancies in DNA sequencing, it is largely accepted that extant tree sloth species of the genera " Choloepus " and " Bradypus " do not share a recent common ancestor, making them diphyletic to one another and indicating similarities through convergent evolution.
15.
Cuvier made another powerful demonstration of the power of comparative anatomy in paleontology when he presented a second paper in 1796 on a large fossil skeleton from Paraguay, which he named " Megatherium " and identified as a giant sloth by comparing its skull to those of two living species of tree sloth.
16.
If the insurance industry had its way, every American would be required to carry coverage for every conceivable risk and no citizen could eat fried foods, get less than eight hours sleep, avoid daily exercise or travel by any means faster than a South American three-toed tree sloth unless fully outfitted in government-approved safety gear.
