Long ago, giant, odd-looking creatures roamed the plains and forests of South America. Larger than elephants, these behemoths wielded foot-long, dagger-like claws with their huge, muscular arms. They lived alongside our distant human ancestors, but less than 10,000 years ago they mysteriously disappeared. It seemed that the "fellowship of the claw" had come to an end. Or had it?

Giant ground sloths belonged to the Xenarthra family, an ancient and bizarre group of mammals that evolved shortly after the dinosaurs went extinct. Xenarthrans continue to roam South America today, and though none are as large as their supersized ancestors, they are truly among the strangest creatures on the planet.

Some have long, tube-like mouths with 2-foot-long tongues. Others have prehensile tails, which they use to grasp thin vines and stems. Some spend nearly their entire lives upside down, while others are coated in thick plates of armor. Together, they form the claw family, each sharing the characteristic of long, sharp claws.

Amazon Claws reveals the truth behind these weird and wonderful animals — anteaters, sloths and armadillos — with an intimacy like you've never seen before.