The extinct giant ground sloths were some of the only mammals that had digestive systems large enough to process the huge avocado seeds whole. They feasted on the fruit and then dispersed the seeds far and wide. All tree sloths that we see today evolved from giant ground sloths.
Why do we need sloths for avocados?
Giant ground sloths were one of the few ancient herbivores large enough to swallow avocados whole, thus serving as an important seed disperser for these delicious fruits that we know and love today! Many plants, especially in tropical ecosystems, have evolved to rely upon animals to spread their seeds.
One article argued that what’s more, while you might think the whole sloth poop/avocado connection is gross, without the sloth we might not have avocados at all. According to the Smithsonian magazine, avocados need to be dispersed away from their parent tree in order to get their own sunlight and thrive, which is exactly what the sloth did.
Why do avocados have pits?
Though humans weren’t swallowing the fruits whole, they did plant them widely over South and Central America, probably giving themselves avocado hand all along the way. The maligned avocado pit is what’s called an “ evolutionary anachronism. ” No sloth on today’s earth is capable of pooping out such a large seed, yet the pit persists.
Then, are there any mammals that eat avocados?
An answer is that most mammals couldn’t handle large seeds, so it was up to the giant sloths and other megafauna to disperse (and fertilize!) avocados. Giant ground sloths went extinct about 13,000 years ago, but the avocado lives on.”.
Do seedless avocados prevent avocado hand?
Thank This Giant Extinct Sloth They ate avocados, pit and all. Thank This Giant Extinct Sloth A giant ground sloth skeleton. Neville Mountford-Hoare, Alamy Last December, social media buzzed with a new food innovation: seedless avocados. Available only in a few British supermarkets, they supposedly prevent “avocado hand .”.
What did sloths eat in the past?
Their diet consisted of grass and foliage. But they occasionally ate a more nutritious treat : the early avocado. Giant sloths, along with megafauna like gomphotheres and glyptodons, feasted on whole avocados and spread their seeds over South America.
Did ancient giant sloths poop out avocado pits to buy houses?
Millennials lost out on their chance to buy houses because of ancient giant sloths who spent their days chilling and pooping out avocado pits, suggest scientists .