South American Pleistocene Fauna

The South American Pleistocene fauna refers to the diverse range of large mammals and other animals that lived in South America during the Pleistocene epoch, around 2.6 million to about 11,700 years ago. This period saw the rise of distinctive species such as the giant ground sloth, saber-toothed cats, and large deer known as "mastodons." These animals adapted to various environments, from lush forests to grasslands. Many of these species went extinct, likely due to climate changes and human hunting, marking a significant shift in the continent's biodiversity. The study of this fauna helps us understand evolutionary processes and environmental changes.