Glyptodont

Glyptodontinae Temporal range: Miocene–Pleistocene PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Fossil Glyptodon skeleton, Naturhistorisches Museum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Cingulata
Family:	Chlamyphoridae
Subfamily:	†Glyptodontinae Burmeister 1879
Genera
†Pseudoneothoracophorus †Neothoracophorus †Glyptatelus †Clypeotherium †Neoglyptatelus †Pachyarmatherium †Hoplophorus †Palaehoplophorus †Propalaehoplophorus †Parapropalaehoplophorus †Metopotoxus †Eucinepeltus †Asterostemma †Eleutherocercus †Prodaedicurus †Lomaphorus †Castellanosia †Xiphuroides †Doedicurus †Daedicuroides †Plaxhaplous †Glyptotherium †Glyptodontidium †Paraglyptodon †Glyptodon †Stromatherium †Chlamydotherium †Glyptostracon †Heteroglyptodon †Panochthus †Sclerocalyptus †Neosclerocalyptus †Neuryurus

Glyptodontinae (glyptodonts or glyptodontines) are an extinct subfamily of large, heavily armored armadillos which developed in South American and also populated areas of North America.

Glyptodonts first evolved during the Miocene in South America, which remained their center of species diversity. For example, an Early Miocene glyptodont with many primitive features, when compared to other species, Parapropalaehoplophorus septentrionalis, was discovered at a now-elevated site in Chile and described in 2007. When the Isthmus of Panama formed about three million years ago, several species, such as Glyptotherium texanum, spread north as part of the Great American Interchange, as did pampatheres and armadillos.

Glyptodonts possessed a tortoise-like body armour, made of bony deposits in their skin called osteoderms or scutes. Each species of glyptodont had a unique osteoderm pattern and shell type. With this protection, they were armored like turtles; glyptodonts could not withdraw their heads, but their armoured skin formed a bony cap on the top of their skull. Even glyptodont tails had a ring of bones for protection. Doedicurus possessed a large mace-like spiked tail that it would have used to defend itself from predators and, possibly, other Doedicurus. Glyptodonts also had size on their side; many, such as the type genus, Glyptodon, were the size of modern automobiles. The presence of such heavy defenses suggests they were prey of a large, effective predator. At the time that glyptodonts evolved, the apex predators in the island continent of South America were phorusrhacids, a family of giant flightless carnivorous birds.