1.6" Glyptodon Fossil Osteoderm Scute Plate Bony Armor Pleistocene Uruguay COA

Location: Uruguay

Weight: 0.8 Ounces 

Dimension: 1.6 Inches Long, 1.3 Inches Wide, 0.9 Inches Thick

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

This is a real Fossil.

Glyptodon was an enormous, extinct mammal related to modern armadillos, living in North and South America during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (5.3 million to 11,700 years ago). Its body was protected by a massive, dome-like shell made of fused bony plates, giving it almost complete defense against predators. The tail, also armored, could act as a powerful weapon, sometimes ending in a spiked or knobbed tip. Despite its formidable appearance, Glyptodon was mostly herbivorous, though it could eat a variety of foods, including plants, carrion, and insects. Its unique combination of size, armor, and diet made it one of the most impressive members of the prehistoric megafauna.

Looking at Glyptodon, you might think it’s some sort of hybrid experiment—a mix between a turtle, a beaver, and an armadillo. In reality, it’s only distantly related to modern armadillos and has no relation to turtles or beavers.

One of the most striking facts about Glyptodon is its sheer size. This prehistoric mammal measured around 10 feet in length and weighed close to a ton—roughly the same as a Volkswagen Beetle! Its short legs supported a massive, dome-shaped armored shell, making it nearly impervious to predators. The only vulnerable spot was its soft underbelly, so any predator capable of flipping it over would have had a chance to attack.

Glyptodon went extinct on the precipice of the last Ice Age, or about 10,000 years ago. Paleontologists believe that climate change wasn’t the only event responsible for this animal’s demise, however. They also believe that this animal was hunted to extinction. Not only would the meat and fur of this animal be highly prized by early South American settlers, but some evidence also points to the fact that they used this animal’s shells as a way to shelter themselves from the cold.