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

Location: Uruguay

Weight: 4 Ounces 

Dimension: 2 Inches Long, 1.9 Inches Wide, 1.4 Inches Thick

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Glyptodon is a genus of extinct giant mammals related to modern armadillos and found as fossils in deposits in North and South America dating from the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (5.3 million to 11,700 years ago). Glyptodon and its close relatives, the glyptodonts, were encased from head to tail in thick, protective armor resembling in shape the shell of a turtle but composed of bony plates much like the covering of an armadillo. The body shell alone was as long as 1.5 meters (5 feet). The tail, also clad in armor, could serve as a lethal club; indeed, in some relatives of Glyptodon, the tip of the tail was a knob of bone that was sometimes spiked. Glyptodonts ate almost anything—plants, carrion, or insects.

At first glance, Glyptodon almost looks like a mash-up of several familiar animals—part turtle, part beaver, and part armadillo. Its domed shell, stout body, and broad tail give it an almost otherworldly appearance. Despite the resemblance, Glyptodon wasn’t related to turtles or beavers. Instead, this Ice Age giant is most closely connected to modern armadillos, sharing a distant evolutionary lineage within the same broader group of armored mammals.

One of the most remarkable things about Glyptodon is its sheer size—it was roughly comparable to a modern Volkswagen Beetle. Measuring close to 10 feet in length and weighing nearly a ton, this unusual Ice Age mammal carried an enormous armored shell over its squat, sturdy body. The thick dome of bony plates made it incredibly difficult for predators to penetrate. Its only major vulnerability was its underside; if a large predator managed to flip it onto its back, the exposed, softer belly would have been far easier to attack.

Glyptodon disappeared near the end of the last Ice Age, roughly 10,000 years ago. While shifting climates certainly put pressure on the species, paleontologists believe human activity also played a major role in its extinction. Early inhabitants of South America likely hunted Glyptodon for its meat and hide, both of which would have been valuable resources. Evidence also suggests that these massive animals’ sturdy, dome-like shells may have been used by people as natural shelters, offering protection from harsh weather. This combination of environmental change and human hunting ultimately contributed to the species’ decline.