Here are some more illustrations representing the incredibly diverse fauna of Venezuela’s Urumaco formation.



1. Bolivartherium was a buffalo-sized ground sloth. It was a relative of Lestodon, another sloth for which there is evidence of gregarious living, so here it is in a small family unit. They shared their floodplain/savannah habitat with plenty of birds, such as herons and ibises.



2. Pelagornis was a huge seabird with pseudo-teeth, which were in fact impressive serrations on its bill. It was found in neighboring formations from around the same timespan as Urumaco, and like many seabirds today, may have used mangrove forests as a safe place for nesting, like these accompanying frigatebirds. Another animal that used the protection of mangroves for shelter according to fossil evidence is the giant shark Megalodon, some babies seen here.



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