Yep.
They are.
If you’ve never settled down to eat a bit of avo toast or dip some Doritos in a bit of guac and thought, “Hmm, I wonder where the pit of this avocado was deposited and subsequently grown and whether giant sloths and their digestive systems had anything to do with it,” then you might want to start.
… Because if it wasn’t for giant sloths and their giant digestive systems, we may not have the avocados we know and love today.
According to the American Museum of Natural History, 15 foot giant sloths called Lestodons used to eat avocados whole, walk long distances, and then deposit the pits in far away places for them to grow again.
Next time you eat guacamole, thank a giant ground sloth: the Lestodon! These 15-ft animals ate avocado whole, traveled, and then pooped, depositing the pits in new places. Most mammals couldn't handle large seeds, so it was up to megafauna to disperse (and fertilize!) avocados. pic.twitter.com/uBpAqQqgRg
— American Museum of Natural History (@AMNH) December 29, 2017
The majority of animals could not carry large seeds in their digestive systems is such a way, so it was up to the giant animals to do much of the heavy lifting
… And heavy shitting.
So thanks giant sloths – you’ve done us proud.
We’ll never eat avocados the same way again.
