Neocnus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mamallia
Order: Pilosa
Family: Megalonychidae
Genus: Neocnus
Species: N. gliriformis
               N. major
               N. comes
               N. dousman
               N. toupiti
Conservation Status: Extinct
Temporal Range: Pleistocene

 Neocnus is an extinct genus of ground sloth, whose species ranged across Cuba and Hispaniola. Neocnus would have resembled a typical megalonychid ground sloth, though much smaller, with a longer tail and broad trunk, as well as lissome limbs and long claws. This sloth was known for having caudal vertebrae that were broad, a trait shared with other ground sloths, indicating that this animal like the tamandua of today, likely used its tail to stand  upright. The caniniform teeth of the Neocnus were large and triangular, and its skull was deep and large. 

The fossils of this sloth were found in Haitian cave deposits. They have been dated to as recently as 4391 BP, calibrated to 5000 BP. It is theorized that this sloth, in common with other Antillean sloths was killed off by humans seeking its pelt and meat. Currently, this species of sloth is being studied by evolutionary historians. Neocnus is suspected of having been semi-arboreal.