Could Giant Ground Sloths have been a good pack animal for the ancient Mayans?












8












$begingroup$


In my world, the Mayan Empire expanded into the Caribbean and met the relict ground sloths of the Caribbean. In this same world, the Mayan empire saw the use of these creatures as good domestic animals that they could bring to the mainland. With pack animals, the Mayans could build even more amazing structures, and form an even more powerful civilization. They may not even have been dominated by the Spanish. Sadly, there is a problem with this idea. Could the Ground Sloths have been made in to viable pack animals?






civilization domestication







share|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    By pack animal, you mean using them for things like driving carts, right?
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    10 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Yes, and carrying things. They could also possibly being mounts for humans, though this isn't required.
    $endgroup$
    – Sengiwizard42
    10 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    @Renan you could just dump packs on them, eg. !pack llama
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    10 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Not sure if I know enough about the ground sloths to tell if they would be a good fit for domestication. Here's a really well made video about the requirement for domesticating animals with stone-age level tech, done by CGP Grey: youtube.com/watch?v=wOmjnioNulo Might give you a better idea about the feasibility of this concept.
    $endgroup$
    – abestrange
    10 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    keep in mind there are several species of horse, a giant camelid, and all the toxodontids available at the same time that would make for better candidates. although with domestication temperament and behavior rain supreme.
    $endgroup$
    – John
    8 hours ago


















8












$begingroup$


In my world, the Mayan Empire expanded into the Caribbean and met the relict ground sloths of the Caribbean. In this same world, the Mayan empire saw the use of these creatures as good domestic animals that they could bring to the mainland. With pack animals, the Mayans could build even more amazing structures, and form an even more powerful civilization. They may not even have been dominated by the Spanish. Sadly, there is a problem with this idea. Could the Ground Sloths have been made in to viable pack animals?






civilization domestication







share|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    By pack animal, you mean using them for things like driving carts, right?
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    10 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Yes, and carrying things. They could also possibly being mounts for humans, though this isn't required.
    $endgroup$
    – Sengiwizard42
    10 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    @Renan you could just dump packs on them, eg. !pack llama
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    10 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Not sure if I know enough about the ground sloths to tell if they would be a good fit for domestication. Here's a really well made video about the requirement for domesticating animals with stone-age level tech, done by CGP Grey: youtube.com/watch?v=wOmjnioNulo Might give you a better idea about the feasibility of this concept.
    $endgroup$
    – abestrange
    10 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    keep in mind there are several species of horse, a giant camelid, and all the toxodontids available at the same time that would make for better candidates. although with domestication temperament and behavior rain supreme.
    $endgroup$
    – John
    8 hours ago
















8












8








8





$begingroup$


In my world, the Mayan Empire expanded into the Caribbean and met the relict ground sloths of the Caribbean. In this same world, the Mayan empire saw the use of these creatures as good domestic animals that they could bring to the mainland. With pack animals, the Mayans could build even more amazing structures, and form an even more powerful civilization. They may not even have been dominated by the Spanish. Sadly, there is a problem with this idea. Could the Ground Sloths have been made in to viable pack animals?






civilization domestication







share|improve this question











$endgroup$




In my world, the Mayan Empire expanded into the Caribbean and met the relict ground sloths of the Caribbean. In this same world, the Mayan empire saw the use of these creatures as good domestic animals that they could bring to the mainland. With pack animals, the Mayans could build even more amazing structures, and form an even more powerful civilization. They may not even have been dominated by the Spanish. Sadly, there is a problem with this idea. Could the Ground Sloths have been made in to viable pack animals?






civilization domestication




civilization domestication






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 5 hours ago









Cyn

11.2k12453




11.2k12453










asked 10 hours ago









Sengiwizard42Sengiwizard42

885




885








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    By pack animal, you mean using them for things like driving carts, right?
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    10 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Yes, and carrying things. They could also possibly being mounts for humans, though this isn't required.
    $endgroup$
    – Sengiwizard42
    10 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    @Renan you could just dump packs on them, eg. !pack llama
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    10 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Not sure if I know enough about the ground sloths to tell if they would be a good fit for domestication. Here's a really well made video about the requirement for domesticating animals with stone-age level tech, done by CGP Grey: youtube.com/watch?v=wOmjnioNulo Might give you a better idea about the feasibility of this concept.
    $endgroup$
    – abestrange
    10 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    keep in mind there are several species of horse, a giant camelid, and all the toxodontids available at the same time that would make for better candidates. although with domestication temperament and behavior rain supreme.
    $endgroup$
    – John
    8 hours ago
















  • 1




    $begingroup$
    By pack animal, you mean using them for things like driving carts, right?
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    10 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Yes, and carrying things. They could also possibly being mounts for humans, though this isn't required.
    $endgroup$
    – Sengiwizard42
    10 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    @Renan you could just dump packs on them, eg. !pack llama
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    10 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Not sure if I know enough about the ground sloths to tell if they would be a good fit for domestication. Here's a really well made video about the requirement for domesticating animals with stone-age level tech, done by CGP Grey: youtube.com/watch?v=wOmjnioNulo Might give you a better idea about the feasibility of this concept.
    $endgroup$
    – abestrange
    10 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    keep in mind there are several species of horse, a giant camelid, and all the toxodontids available at the same time that would make for better candidates. although with domestication temperament and behavior rain supreme.
    $endgroup$
    – John
    8 hours ago










1




1




$begingroup$
By pack animal, you mean using them for things like driving carts, right?
$endgroup$
– Renan
10 hours ago




$begingroup$
By pack animal, you mean using them for things like driving carts, right?
$endgroup$
– Renan
10 hours ago




3




3




$begingroup$
Yes, and carrying things. They could also possibly being mounts for humans, though this isn't required.
$endgroup$
– Sengiwizard42
10 hours ago




$begingroup$
Yes, and carrying things. They could also possibly being mounts for humans, though this isn't required.
$endgroup$
– Sengiwizard42
10 hours ago




3




3




$begingroup$
@Renan you could just dump packs on them, eg. !pack llama
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
10 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Renan you could just dump packs on them, eg. !pack llama
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
10 hours ago












$begingroup$
Not sure if I know enough about the ground sloths to tell if they would be a good fit for domestication. Here's a really well made video about the requirement for domesticating animals with stone-age level tech, done by CGP Grey: youtube.com/watch?v=wOmjnioNulo Might give you a better idea about the feasibility of this concept.
$endgroup$
– abestrange
10 hours ago




$begingroup$
Not sure if I know enough about the ground sloths to tell if they would be a good fit for domestication. Here's a really well made video about the requirement for domesticating animals with stone-age level tech, done by CGP Grey: youtube.com/watch?v=wOmjnioNulo Might give you a better idea about the feasibility of this concept.
$endgroup$
– abestrange
10 hours ago




2




2




$begingroup$
keep in mind there are several species of horse, a giant camelid, and all the toxodontids available at the same time that would make for better candidates. although with domestication temperament and behavior rain supreme.
$endgroup$
– John
8 hours ago






$begingroup$
keep in mind there are several species of horse, a giant camelid, and all the toxodontids available at the same time that would make for better candidates. although with domestication temperament and behavior rain supreme.
$endgroup$
– John
8 hours ago












2 Answers
2






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$begingroup$

Based on assessments of them being slower-paced in motion, having osteoderms, inturned claws on the front paws capable of tearing apart large branches, no incisors, and exclusively vegetarian diet in coproliths, I'd say it'd be possible, but probably no picnic to domesticate such a beast.



We cannot, of course, assess intelligence / intransigence, herd / individuated behaviour easily, so it's equally possible that they might be characterlogically unsuited to domestication; I'd guess though that if the people in question had a significant observational base of the behaviours of this mega-critter, it'd probably be do-able.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    2












    $begingroup$

    Sloths are not very social but they are still mammals



    Most domesticated animals come from species that form packs in the wild, with cats as a notable exception. Social species are able to live together in a confined space more easily than solitary species (try to lock two adult tigers in a barn and you'll get an idea). Moreover, their social brains allow them to "empathize" with human moods and feelings (e.g. dogs, camels, horses).



    Unfortunately, it seems sloths are not very social animals.
    This is an excerpt from a paper on social behaviour between sloth mothers and their young offspring.




    Social interactions among sloths are considered to be rare, mainly because these animals are known for their solitary habits. However, some reports represent attempts to understand to a greater extent some of the sloths' social interactions in captivity or in the wild. In this context, a study focused on indirect contact through vocalization between mother and young of Choloepus hoffmanni and Bradypus infuscatus (= Bradypus variegatus) (Montgomery & Sunquist, 1974). It showed that vocalization is quite intense and important to communication in the first 6 months of total infant dependence.




    However, since sloths are mammals, they do depend on mom and learn a lot of things from her. If your Mayans find a way to substitute sloth mothers and make them addicted to humans somehow, you could have some type of sloth domestication but very different from that of horses or dogs. Maybe you could look into the process of cow domestication to get some inspiration.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Im not sure you answered the question here, i think you have misinterpreted the phrase “pack animals”. The phrase is not referring to a pack of animals, such as a wolf pack, it is refering to load-bearing animals, such as donkeys. Essentially, its asking “would giant sloths make good beasts of burden”.
      $endgroup$
      – Liam Morris
      8 hours ago












    • $begingroup$
      @LiamMorris He is talking about the social patterns as relevant to ease of domestication. An animal that cannot be domesticated does not make a good pack animal. By contrast most animals of sufficient size that can be domesticated can be used as pack animals and bred to be better at it over generations. So he is answering the correct question, he just forgot to say it.
      $endgroup$
      – Ville Niemi
      7 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @VilleNiemi The way it is phrased indicates they have not fully understood the question “So on one side, based on the knowledge we have from extant species, sloths are not pack animals.” This phrase comes directly after explaining the social interactions and solitary nature of sloths. That phrase does not make sense unless they were refering to sloths not being good as a pack of animals. If they were refering to pack animals as the OP meant, then they would have talked about the physiology or biology of sloths, not how they socialise.
      $endgroup$
      – Liam Morris
      7 hours ago








    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @LiamMorris dogs are good pack animals but poor beasts of burden, with notable exceptions. Except for cats, domesticated animals come from animals that form packs in the wild, I assumed this was common-knowledge, my fault. I´ll edit my post later. Maybe you could comment this issue directly to @Sengiwizard42?
      $endgroup$
      – Chuck Ramirez
      7 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @ChuckRamirez Its not the knowledge thats the problem, its the wording (or rather, the lack of words to provide clarification). It doesnt make sense without that context you added. Also, i would argue that them being solitary creatures as no effect on their physical capabilities. Even if they are not social creatures by nature, if they can carry heavy loads and be directed to move in a direction, they would make good pack animals.
      $endgroup$
      – Liam Morris
      7 hours ago














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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
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    active

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    $begingroup$

    Based on assessments of them being slower-paced in motion, having osteoderms, inturned claws on the front paws capable of tearing apart large branches, no incisors, and exclusively vegetarian diet in coproliths, I'd say it'd be possible, but probably no picnic to domesticate such a beast.



    We cannot, of course, assess intelligence / intransigence, herd / individuated behaviour easily, so it's equally possible that they might be characterlogically unsuited to domestication; I'd guess though that if the people in question had a significant observational base of the behaviours of this mega-critter, it'd probably be do-able.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      6












      $begingroup$

      Based on assessments of them being slower-paced in motion, having osteoderms, inturned claws on the front paws capable of tearing apart large branches, no incisors, and exclusively vegetarian diet in coproliths, I'd say it'd be possible, but probably no picnic to domesticate such a beast.



      We cannot, of course, assess intelligence / intransigence, herd / individuated behaviour easily, so it's equally possible that they might be characterlogically unsuited to domestication; I'd guess though that if the people in question had a significant observational base of the behaviours of this mega-critter, it'd probably be do-able.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        6












        6








        6





        $begingroup$

        Based on assessments of them being slower-paced in motion, having osteoderms, inturned claws on the front paws capable of tearing apart large branches, no incisors, and exclusively vegetarian diet in coproliths, I'd say it'd be possible, but probably no picnic to domesticate such a beast.



        We cannot, of course, assess intelligence / intransigence, herd / individuated behaviour easily, so it's equally possible that they might be characterlogically unsuited to domestication; I'd guess though that if the people in question had a significant observational base of the behaviours of this mega-critter, it'd probably be do-able.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        Based on assessments of them being slower-paced in motion, having osteoderms, inturned claws on the front paws capable of tearing apart large branches, no incisors, and exclusively vegetarian diet in coproliths, I'd say it'd be possible, but probably no picnic to domesticate such a beast.



        We cannot, of course, assess intelligence / intransigence, herd / individuated behaviour easily, so it's equally possible that they might be characterlogically unsuited to domestication; I'd guess though that if the people in question had a significant observational base of the behaviours of this mega-critter, it'd probably be do-able.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 10 hours ago









        GerardFallaGerardFalla

        4,845729




        4,845729























            2












            $begingroup$

            Sloths are not very social but they are still mammals



            Most domesticated animals come from species that form packs in the wild, with cats as a notable exception. Social species are able to live together in a confined space more easily than solitary species (try to lock two adult tigers in a barn and you'll get an idea). Moreover, their social brains allow them to "empathize" with human moods and feelings (e.g. dogs, camels, horses).



            Unfortunately, it seems sloths are not very social animals.
            This is an excerpt from a paper on social behaviour between sloth mothers and their young offspring.




            Social interactions among sloths are considered to be rare, mainly because these animals are known for their solitary habits. However, some reports represent attempts to understand to a greater extent some of the sloths' social interactions in captivity or in the wild. In this context, a study focused on indirect contact through vocalization between mother and young of Choloepus hoffmanni and Bradypus infuscatus (= Bradypus variegatus) (Montgomery & Sunquist, 1974). It showed that vocalization is quite intense and important to communication in the first 6 months of total infant dependence.




            However, since sloths are mammals, they do depend on mom and learn a lot of things from her. If your Mayans find a way to substitute sloth mothers and make them addicted to humans somehow, you could have some type of sloth domestication but very different from that of horses or dogs. Maybe you could look into the process of cow domestication to get some inspiration.






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              Im not sure you answered the question here, i think you have misinterpreted the phrase “pack animals”. The phrase is not referring to a pack of animals, such as a wolf pack, it is refering to load-bearing animals, such as donkeys. Essentially, its asking “would giant sloths make good beasts of burden”.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              8 hours ago












            • $begingroup$
              @LiamMorris He is talking about the social patterns as relevant to ease of domestication. An animal that cannot be domesticated does not make a good pack animal. By contrast most animals of sufficient size that can be domesticated can be used as pack animals and bred to be better at it over generations. So he is answering the correct question, he just forgot to say it.
              $endgroup$
              – Ville Niemi
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              @VilleNiemi The way it is phrased indicates they have not fully understood the question “So on one side, based on the knowledge we have from extant species, sloths are not pack animals.” This phrase comes directly after explaining the social interactions and solitary nature of sloths. That phrase does not make sense unless they were refering to sloths not being good as a pack of animals. If they were refering to pack animals as the OP meant, then they would have talked about the physiology or biology of sloths, not how they socialise.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              7 hours ago








            • 1




              $begingroup$
              @LiamMorris dogs are good pack animals but poor beasts of burden, with notable exceptions. Except for cats, domesticated animals come from animals that form packs in the wild, I assumed this was common-knowledge, my fault. I´ll edit my post later. Maybe you could comment this issue directly to @Sengiwizard42?
              $endgroup$
              – Chuck Ramirez
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              @ChuckRamirez Its not the knowledge thats the problem, its the wording (or rather, the lack of words to provide clarification). It doesnt make sense without that context you added. Also, i would argue that them being solitary creatures as no effect on their physical capabilities. Even if they are not social creatures by nature, if they can carry heavy loads and be directed to move in a direction, they would make good pack animals.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              7 hours ago


















            2












            $begingroup$

            Sloths are not very social but they are still mammals



            Most domesticated animals come from species that form packs in the wild, with cats as a notable exception. Social species are able to live together in a confined space more easily than solitary species (try to lock two adult tigers in a barn and you'll get an idea). Moreover, their social brains allow them to "empathize" with human moods and feelings (e.g. dogs, camels, horses).



            Unfortunately, it seems sloths are not very social animals.
            This is an excerpt from a paper on social behaviour between sloth mothers and their young offspring.




            Social interactions among sloths are considered to be rare, mainly because these animals are known for their solitary habits. However, some reports represent attempts to understand to a greater extent some of the sloths' social interactions in captivity or in the wild. In this context, a study focused on indirect contact through vocalization between mother and young of Choloepus hoffmanni and Bradypus infuscatus (= Bradypus variegatus) (Montgomery & Sunquist, 1974). It showed that vocalization is quite intense and important to communication in the first 6 months of total infant dependence.




            However, since sloths are mammals, they do depend on mom and learn a lot of things from her. If your Mayans find a way to substitute sloth mothers and make them addicted to humans somehow, you could have some type of sloth domestication but very different from that of horses or dogs. Maybe you could look into the process of cow domestication to get some inspiration.






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              Im not sure you answered the question here, i think you have misinterpreted the phrase “pack animals”. The phrase is not referring to a pack of animals, such as a wolf pack, it is refering to load-bearing animals, such as donkeys. Essentially, its asking “would giant sloths make good beasts of burden”.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              8 hours ago












            • $begingroup$
              @LiamMorris He is talking about the social patterns as relevant to ease of domestication. An animal that cannot be domesticated does not make a good pack animal. By contrast most animals of sufficient size that can be domesticated can be used as pack animals and bred to be better at it over generations. So he is answering the correct question, he just forgot to say it.
              $endgroup$
              – Ville Niemi
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              @VilleNiemi The way it is phrased indicates they have not fully understood the question “So on one side, based on the knowledge we have from extant species, sloths are not pack animals.” This phrase comes directly after explaining the social interactions and solitary nature of sloths. That phrase does not make sense unless they were refering to sloths not being good as a pack of animals. If they were refering to pack animals as the OP meant, then they would have talked about the physiology or biology of sloths, not how they socialise.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              7 hours ago








            • 1




              $begingroup$
              @LiamMorris dogs are good pack animals but poor beasts of burden, with notable exceptions. Except for cats, domesticated animals come from animals that form packs in the wild, I assumed this was common-knowledge, my fault. I´ll edit my post later. Maybe you could comment this issue directly to @Sengiwizard42?
              $endgroup$
              – Chuck Ramirez
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              @ChuckRamirez Its not the knowledge thats the problem, its the wording (or rather, the lack of words to provide clarification). It doesnt make sense without that context you added. Also, i would argue that them being solitary creatures as no effect on their physical capabilities. Even if they are not social creatures by nature, if they can carry heavy loads and be directed to move in a direction, they would make good pack animals.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              7 hours ago
















            2












            2








            2





            $begingroup$

            Sloths are not very social but they are still mammals



            Most domesticated animals come from species that form packs in the wild, with cats as a notable exception. Social species are able to live together in a confined space more easily than solitary species (try to lock two adult tigers in a barn and you'll get an idea). Moreover, their social brains allow them to "empathize" with human moods and feelings (e.g. dogs, camels, horses).



            Unfortunately, it seems sloths are not very social animals.
            This is an excerpt from a paper on social behaviour between sloth mothers and their young offspring.




            Social interactions among sloths are considered to be rare, mainly because these animals are known for their solitary habits. However, some reports represent attempts to understand to a greater extent some of the sloths' social interactions in captivity or in the wild. In this context, a study focused on indirect contact through vocalization between mother and young of Choloepus hoffmanni and Bradypus infuscatus (= Bradypus variegatus) (Montgomery & Sunquist, 1974). It showed that vocalization is quite intense and important to communication in the first 6 months of total infant dependence.




            However, since sloths are mammals, they do depend on mom and learn a lot of things from her. If your Mayans find a way to substitute sloth mothers and make them addicted to humans somehow, you could have some type of sloth domestication but very different from that of horses or dogs. Maybe you could look into the process of cow domestication to get some inspiration.






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$



            Sloths are not very social but they are still mammals



            Most domesticated animals come from species that form packs in the wild, with cats as a notable exception. Social species are able to live together in a confined space more easily than solitary species (try to lock two adult tigers in a barn and you'll get an idea). Moreover, their social brains allow them to "empathize" with human moods and feelings (e.g. dogs, camels, horses).



            Unfortunately, it seems sloths are not very social animals.
            This is an excerpt from a paper on social behaviour between sloth mothers and their young offspring.




            Social interactions among sloths are considered to be rare, mainly because these animals are known for their solitary habits. However, some reports represent attempts to understand to a greater extent some of the sloths' social interactions in captivity or in the wild. In this context, a study focused on indirect contact through vocalization between mother and young of Choloepus hoffmanni and Bradypus infuscatus (= Bradypus variegatus) (Montgomery & Sunquist, 1974). It showed that vocalization is quite intense and important to communication in the first 6 months of total infant dependence.




            However, since sloths are mammals, they do depend on mom and learn a lot of things from her. If your Mayans find a way to substitute sloth mothers and make them addicted to humans somehow, you could have some type of sloth domestication but very different from that of horses or dogs. Maybe you could look into the process of cow domestication to get some inspiration.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 5 hours ago

























            answered 8 hours ago









            Chuck RamirezChuck Ramirez

            3206




            3206












            • $begingroup$
              Im not sure you answered the question here, i think you have misinterpreted the phrase “pack animals”. The phrase is not referring to a pack of animals, such as a wolf pack, it is refering to load-bearing animals, such as donkeys. Essentially, its asking “would giant sloths make good beasts of burden”.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              8 hours ago












            • $begingroup$
              @LiamMorris He is talking about the social patterns as relevant to ease of domestication. An animal that cannot be domesticated does not make a good pack animal. By contrast most animals of sufficient size that can be domesticated can be used as pack animals and bred to be better at it over generations. So he is answering the correct question, he just forgot to say it.
              $endgroup$
              – Ville Niemi
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              @VilleNiemi The way it is phrased indicates they have not fully understood the question “So on one side, based on the knowledge we have from extant species, sloths are not pack animals.” This phrase comes directly after explaining the social interactions and solitary nature of sloths. That phrase does not make sense unless they were refering to sloths not being good as a pack of animals. If they were refering to pack animals as the OP meant, then they would have talked about the physiology or biology of sloths, not how they socialise.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              7 hours ago








            • 1




              $begingroup$
              @LiamMorris dogs are good pack animals but poor beasts of burden, with notable exceptions. Except for cats, domesticated animals come from animals that form packs in the wild, I assumed this was common-knowledge, my fault. I´ll edit my post later. Maybe you could comment this issue directly to @Sengiwizard42?
              $endgroup$
              – Chuck Ramirez
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              @ChuckRamirez Its not the knowledge thats the problem, its the wording (or rather, the lack of words to provide clarification). It doesnt make sense without that context you added. Also, i would argue that them being solitary creatures as no effect on their physical capabilities. Even if they are not social creatures by nature, if they can carry heavy loads and be directed to move in a direction, they would make good pack animals.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              7 hours ago




















            • $begingroup$
              Im not sure you answered the question here, i think you have misinterpreted the phrase “pack animals”. The phrase is not referring to a pack of animals, such as a wolf pack, it is refering to load-bearing animals, such as donkeys. Essentially, its asking “would giant sloths make good beasts of burden”.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              8 hours ago












            • $begingroup$
              @LiamMorris He is talking about the social patterns as relevant to ease of domestication. An animal that cannot be domesticated does not make a good pack animal. By contrast most animals of sufficient size that can be domesticated can be used as pack animals and bred to be better at it over generations. So he is answering the correct question, he just forgot to say it.
              $endgroup$
              – Ville Niemi
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              @VilleNiemi The way it is phrased indicates they have not fully understood the question “So on one side, based on the knowledge we have from extant species, sloths are not pack animals.” This phrase comes directly after explaining the social interactions and solitary nature of sloths. That phrase does not make sense unless they were refering to sloths not being good as a pack of animals. If they were refering to pack animals as the OP meant, then they would have talked about the physiology or biology of sloths, not how they socialise.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              7 hours ago








            • 1




              $begingroup$
              @LiamMorris dogs are good pack animals but poor beasts of burden, with notable exceptions. Except for cats, domesticated animals come from animals that form packs in the wild, I assumed this was common-knowledge, my fault. I´ll edit my post later. Maybe you could comment this issue directly to @Sengiwizard42?
              $endgroup$
              – Chuck Ramirez
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              @ChuckRamirez Its not the knowledge thats the problem, its the wording (or rather, the lack of words to provide clarification). It doesnt make sense without that context you added. Also, i would argue that them being solitary creatures as no effect on their physical capabilities. Even if they are not social creatures by nature, if they can carry heavy loads and be directed to move in a direction, they would make good pack animals.
              $endgroup$
              – Liam Morris
              7 hours ago


















            $begingroup$
            Im not sure you answered the question here, i think you have misinterpreted the phrase “pack animals”. The phrase is not referring to a pack of animals, such as a wolf pack, it is refering to load-bearing animals, such as donkeys. Essentially, its asking “would giant sloths make good beasts of burden”.
            $endgroup$
            – Liam Morris
            8 hours ago






            $begingroup$
            Im not sure you answered the question here, i think you have misinterpreted the phrase “pack animals”. The phrase is not referring to a pack of animals, such as a wolf pack, it is refering to load-bearing animals, such as donkeys. Essentially, its asking “would giant sloths make good beasts of burden”.
            $endgroup$
            – Liam Morris
            8 hours ago














            $begingroup$
            @LiamMorris He is talking about the social patterns as relevant to ease of domestication. An animal that cannot be domesticated does not make a good pack animal. By contrast most animals of sufficient size that can be domesticated can be used as pack animals and bred to be better at it over generations. So he is answering the correct question, he just forgot to say it.
            $endgroup$
            – Ville Niemi
            7 hours ago




            $begingroup$
            @LiamMorris He is talking about the social patterns as relevant to ease of domestication. An animal that cannot be domesticated does not make a good pack animal. By contrast most animals of sufficient size that can be domesticated can be used as pack animals and bred to be better at it over generations. So he is answering the correct question, he just forgot to say it.
            $endgroup$
            – Ville Niemi
            7 hours ago












            $begingroup$
            @VilleNiemi The way it is phrased indicates they have not fully understood the question “So on one side, based on the knowledge we have from extant species, sloths are not pack animals.” This phrase comes directly after explaining the social interactions and solitary nature of sloths. That phrase does not make sense unless they were refering to sloths not being good as a pack of animals. If they were refering to pack animals as the OP meant, then they would have talked about the physiology or biology of sloths, not how they socialise.
            $endgroup$
            – Liam Morris
            7 hours ago






            $begingroup$
            @VilleNiemi The way it is phrased indicates they have not fully understood the question “So on one side, based on the knowledge we have from extant species, sloths are not pack animals.” This phrase comes directly after explaining the social interactions and solitary nature of sloths. That phrase does not make sense unless they were refering to sloths not being good as a pack of animals. If they were refering to pack animals as the OP meant, then they would have talked about the physiology or biology of sloths, not how they socialise.
            $endgroup$
            – Liam Morris
            7 hours ago






            1




            1




            $begingroup$
            @LiamMorris dogs are good pack animals but poor beasts of burden, with notable exceptions. Except for cats, domesticated animals come from animals that form packs in the wild, I assumed this was common-knowledge, my fault. I´ll edit my post later. Maybe you could comment this issue directly to @Sengiwizard42?
            $endgroup$
            – Chuck Ramirez
            7 hours ago




            $begingroup$
            @LiamMorris dogs are good pack animals but poor beasts of burden, with notable exceptions. Except for cats, domesticated animals come from animals that form packs in the wild, I assumed this was common-knowledge, my fault. I´ll edit my post later. Maybe you could comment this issue directly to @Sengiwizard42?
            $endgroup$
            – Chuck Ramirez
            7 hours ago












            $begingroup$
            @ChuckRamirez Its not the knowledge thats the problem, its the wording (or rather, the lack of words to provide clarification). It doesnt make sense without that context you added. Also, i would argue that them being solitary creatures as no effect on their physical capabilities. Even if they are not social creatures by nature, if they can carry heavy loads and be directed to move in a direction, they would make good pack animals.
            $endgroup$
            – Liam Morris
            7 hours ago






            $begingroup$
            @ChuckRamirez Its not the knowledge thats the problem, its the wording (or rather, the lack of words to provide clarification). It doesnt make sense without that context you added. Also, i would argue that them being solitary creatures as no effect on their physical capabilities. Even if they are not social creatures by nature, if they can carry heavy loads and be directed to move in a direction, they would make good pack animals.
            $endgroup$
            – Liam Morris
            7 hours ago




















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