Ancient Fruit Once Devoured by giant Ground Sloths Still Available Today
New research coinciding with the upcoming Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age series reveals that giant ground sloths, which roamed the Earth over 11,700 years ago, feasted on the unique “cannonball fruit” - and the fruit remains available for consumption today. The discovery highlights the surprisingly recent end of the ice Age and the continued existence of flora consumed by now-extinct megafauna.
The cannonball tree’s fruit, resembling a large, green cannonball, is known for its pungent, skunk-like odor. despite the smell,the bluish-white flesh is edible and still eaten in parts of central and South America. Scientists believe the massive ground sloths may have played a crucial role in dispersing the tree’s seeds, demonstrating a prehistoric ecological relationship that continues to resonate today. “The Ice Age is actually so recent,” explained paleontologist Darren Naish. “It ended 11,700 years ago. That means that, with a few exceptions, everything alive today is in the Ice Age, including us.”
The Prehistoric Planet: ice Age series, set to premiere on Apple TV on November 26, 2025, will further explore the lives of these ancient creatures and the ecosystems they inhabited. The continued availability of the cannonball fruit offers a tangible link to that lost world, allowing a taste of the past for those adventurous enough to try it.
