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Rare Large Megalonyx jeffersonii (Jefferson's Ground Sloth) Hand Claw with Composite Carpals – Aucilla River, Florida.
Offered here is one of my personal prize possessions: an impressive, large hand claw from the extinct Pleistocene giant ground sloth, Megalonyx jeffersonii—famously named after President Thomas Jefferson, who first scientifically described bones of this species in 1797. This iconic Ice Age mammal, known for its massive size (up to 10 feet tall and over 2,000 pounds), used its powerful curved claws to strip foliage from trees and dig for roots.
This is a particularly big example, showcasing excellent preservation and natural curvature. The tip has been professionally restored for completeness and display appeal. To complement the claw's impressive scale, it is accompanied by large composite carpals (wrist bones) assembled from associated fossils of the same species, robust elements that would have supported such a formidable claw in life.
All specimens were legally collected from the renowned Aucilla River in Jefferson County, Florida, a prime Late Pleistocene fossil site known for yielding exceptional megafauna remains.
The final photos in the listing show the claw in its pre-restoration state for full transparency.
A stunning and museum quality piece for any serious fossil collector don't miss this opportunity to own a tangible piece of North American prehistoric history!
