Sloths island-hop to North America
Before the isthmus closes, ground sloths cross the sea gaps and reach the northern continent.
- When
- —
- Duration
- 2 million years
- Known to
- ± 1 million years
- Era
- Miocene, Cenozoic
Around 9 million years ago the ground sloth Thinobadistes appears in Florida, several million years before any land connection exists — it must have crossed the remaining water gaps between the island chain of Central America. Other sloths follow, and in the other direction raccoon relatives reach South America. These early arrivals are the prelude to the Great American Biotic Interchange, which begins in earnest only once the isthmus is complete.