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Scientist-President Thomas Jefferson discovered large bones that were initially thought to be from a large cat-like predator, but it was later determined to be from a giant sloth. French naturalist Anselme Desmarest gave its formal name as Megalonyx jeffersonii.

This is from my letter to Col. John Stuart, August 15, 1797: With great pleasure I forward to you the Diploma of the American Philosophical Society, adopting you into their body. The attention on your part, to which they are indebted for the knowledge that such an animal has existed as the Megalon

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