Ground sloths were large, herbivorous mammals that lived in the Americas during the Pleistocene epoch. They belonged to the order Xenarthra, which also includes modern-day sloths, anteaters, and armadillos. Ground sloths varied in size, with some species growing as large as elephants. They primarily fed on leaves, fruits, and other vegetation. These creatures were well-adapted to their environments, using their strong limbs and claws to dig for food and defend themselves. Ground sloths went extinct around 10,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of climate change and hunting by early humans. Their fossils provide valuable insights into prehistoric ecosystems.