1.8" Glyptodon Fossil Osteoderm Scute Plate Bony Armor Pleistocene Uruguay COA
Location: Uruguay
Weight: 1.2 Ounces
Dimension: 1.8 Inches Long, 1.4 Inches Wide, 1 Inch Thick
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Glyptodon is a genus of massive, extinct mammals closely related to modern armadillos. Their fossils have been uncovered throughout North and South America in geological layers dating to the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs, roughly 5.3 million to 11,700 years ago. These impressive creatures, along with other glyptodonts, were protected by a thick, dome-shaped shell that stretched from head to tail. Although it resembled a turtle’s carapace in overall shape, it was actually made of tightly interlocking bony plates similar to those found in armadillos. The shell alone could reach about 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length. Their tails were also heavily armored and could be used as powerful weapons; in some related species, the tail ended in a large, sometimes spiked, bony club. Glyptodonts had a varied diet and were capable of eating plants, insects, and even carrion when available.
At first glance, Glyptodon can look like a strange blend of animals—a creature that seems part turtle, part beaver, and part armadillo. In reality, though, it was not related to turtles or beavers at all. Its true connection lies with modern armadillos, although Glyptodon was far larger and far more heavily armored than any of its living relatives.
One of the most remarkable things about Glyptodon is its sheer size. This Ice Age giant measured close to 10 feet in length and weighed roughly as much as a Volkswagen Beetle—about a ton. Its squat legs and massive domed shell gave it a distinctive, almost comical appearance, but that armored shell provided excellent protection against predators. Only by flipping the animal onto its back could a predator hope to reach its vulnerable underside, making Glyptodon a challenging target for any would-be attacker.
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.
