The Ancient Armored Mammal
Glyptodon was a huge, armored mammal that lived from about 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago.
| Meaning | Grooved or carved tooth [Glypt-odon] |
| Pronunciation | GLIP-toh-don |
| When: | Pleistocene (about 2 million–10,000 years ago) |
| Where: | South America (Argentina, Uruguay) |
| What: | Mammal (large armadillo-like mammal) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 1–2 metric tons |
| Length: | Approximately 3 meters (10 feet) |
| Diet: | Herbivorous (ate grasses and other vegetation) |
| Discovered: | First described by Richard Owen in 1839 |
It looked like a giant armadillo, with a tough shell covering its body. This shell helped protect Glyptodon from predators as it roamed South American grasslands and ate plants.
Despite its size—up to 11.5 feet long and weighing over 4,400 pounds—Glyptodon was slow and gentle, using its strong claws to dig for food.
It disappeared around 10,000 years ago, likely due to changes in climate and hunting by early humans.