Glyptodon

One of the most distinctive--and comical-looking--creatures of prehistoric times, Glyptodon was essentially a dinosaur-sized armadillo, with a huge, round, armored carapace, stubby, turtle-like legs, and a blunt head on a short neck. This prehistoric mammal looked a bit like a Volkswagen Beetle, and tucked up under its shell it would have been virtually immune to predation.  This huge, slow-moving armadillo was probably hunted to extinction by early humans, who would have prized it not only for its meat but also for its roomy carapace--there's evidence that the earliest settlers of South America sheltered from the snow and rain under Glyptodon shells!

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Name:  Giant Glyptodon Tail
Geologic Age: Pleistocene
Location: Rio Lujan Formation, Brazil, South America
Comments: A Glyptodon resembled a huge turtle but was more closely related to the giant armadillo... They had bony helmets on their furry heads; their bodies were covered by huge carapaces made of bony hexagons bound together by collagen; the bases of their tails were ringed with bone, and terminated in stiff bony sheaths.  This tail is BIG!!  It measures in at 37" long.  The ornamentation on the tail is beautiful... this specimen was found  in one piece but broke near the tip, revealing the bone structure is still present along the length of the tail.  That break was professionally repaired and is difficult to figure out where it was done.   At the base of the tail you can clearly see the bone rings inside that gave the tail support and rigidity.. This is an EXTREMELY RARE specimen that you will probably never see offered anywhere else on the web for sale!!

Glyptodon Tail Price $12,500.00                                         

 

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Name:  Glyptodon Scutes
Geologic Age: Pleistocene
Location: Brazil, South America
Comments: A Glyptodon resembled a huge turtle but was more closely related to the giant armadillo... They had bony helmets on their furry heads; their bodies were covered by huge carapaces made of bony hexagons bound together by collagen; the bases of their tails were ringed with bone, and terminated in stiff bony sheaths.  This is one of the hexagonal scutes that made up their outer "shell". 

Glyptodon Scute 8  Price $15.00                                         

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Glyptodon Scutes
Geologic Age: Pleistocene
Location: Brazil, South America
Comments: A Glyptodon resembled a huge turtle but was more closely related to the giant armadillo... They had bony helmets on their furry heads; their bodies were covered by huge carapaces made of bony hexagons bound together by collagen; the bases of their tails were ringed with bone, and terminated in stiff bony sheaths.  This is one of the hexagonal scutes that made up their outer "shell". 

Glyptodon Scute 15  Price $15.00                                         

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Glyptodon Scutes
Geologic Age: Pleistocene
Location: Brazil, South America
Comments: A Glyptodon resembled a huge turtle but was more closely related to the giant armadillo... They had bony helmets on their furry heads; their bodies were covered by huge carapaces made of bony hexagons bound together by collagen; the bases of their tails were ringed with bone, and terminated in stiff bony sheaths.  This is one of the hexagonal scutes that made up their outer "shell". 

Glyptodon Scute 17  Price $15.00                                         

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Glyptodon Scutes
Geologic Age: Pleistocene
Location: Brazil, South America
Comments: A Glyptodon resembled a huge turtle but was more closely related to the giant armadillo... They had bony helmets on their furry heads; their bodies were covered by huge carapaces made of bony hexagons bound together by collagen; the bases of their tails were ringed with bone, and terminated in stiff bony sheaths.  This is one of the hexagonal scutes that made up their outer "shell". 

Glyptodon Scute 19  Price $15.00                                         

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Glyptodon Scutes
Geologic Age: Pleistocene
Location: Brazil, South America
Comments: A Glyptodon resembled a huge turtle but was more closely related to the giant armadillo... They had bony helmets on their furry heads; their bodies were covered by huge carapaces made of bony hexagons bound together by collagen; the bases of their tails were ringed with bone, and terminated in stiff bony sheaths.  This is one of the hexagonal scutes that made up their outer "shell". 

Glyptodon Scute 22  Price $15.00                                         

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Glyptodon Scutes
Geologic Age: Pleistocene
Location: Brazil, South America
Comments: A Glyptodon resembled a huge turtle but was more closely related to the giant armadillo... They had bony helmets on their furry heads; their bodies were covered by huge carapaces made of bony hexagons bound together by collagen; the bases of their tails were ringed with bone, and terminated in stiff bony sheaths.  This is one of the hexagonal scutes that made up their outer "shell". 

Glyptodon Scute 27  Price $15.00                                         

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Glyptodon Scutes
Geologic Age: Pleistocene
Location: Brazil, South America
Comments: A Glyptodon resembled a huge turtle but was more closely related to the giant armadillo... They had bony helmets on their furry heads; their bodies were covered by huge carapaces made of bony hexagons bound together by collagen; the bases of their tails were ringed with bone, and terminated in stiff bony sheaths.  This is one of the hexagonal scutes that made up their outer "shell". 

Glyptodon Scute 30  Price $15.00