Speleologist and cave researcher Cristián Selun stated that the fossils date back to the Ice Age, approximately 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. This remarkable discovery offers valuable insights into the prehistoric fauna that once roamed the region.
“The first bones that we saw were those of the sloth,” scuba diver Arnaldo Marruco told news outlet NMás. “It was in other nearby areas that we found more bones, including a jaw, which was of a different size.”
Scientists have identified the horses as belonging to the species Equus conversidens, while the giant sloth has been classified as Nothrotheriops shastensis. The sloth is estimated to have weighed around 300 kilograms and measured approximately three meters in length.
The fossils were originally discovered in 2023 within the Dzombakal cenote, located in the San Antonio Mulix community of Yucatán. However, the official identification and analysis results were only recently published by a team of scientists led by paleontologist Jerónimo Avilés Olguín, in collaboration with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
According to Cristián Selun, the bones still need to be thoroughly identified and compared with other specimens previously found in Quintana Roo. He emphasized that this verification process takes time, particularly because human remains have also been uncovered at the site.
So far, scientists have uncovered more than 20 fossilized bone fragments in the area, including vertebrae, jaws, arm and leg bones, along with other remains. However, this marks the first recorded discovery of a giant sloth in Yucatán.
“It was a very large animal. We found the long parts of the legs, very large ribs and shoulder blades,” Marruco said.
These fossil fragments are under the protection of INAH, as their removal from the site is strictly prohibited. They are also safeguarded by local community members, who have committed to preserving these important prehistoric discoveries.
