- Glyptodontidae
Taxobox
name = Glyptodonts
fossil_range = EarlyMiocene - LatePleistocene
image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Doedicurus clavicaudatus "
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
superordo =Xenarthra
ordo =Cingulata
familia = †Glyptodontidae
familia_authority = Burmeister 1879
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision =†"Glyptodon " †"Glyptotherium " †"Doedicurus " †"Hoplophorus " †"Panochthus " †"Parapropalaehoplophorus " †"Plaxhaplous "Glyptodonts were large, more heavily-armored relatives of extinct pampatheres and modern
armadillo s. They first evolved during theMiocene inSouth 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 inChile and described in 2007 [cite web | last = Case Western Reserve University | title = Andean Highlands In Chile Yield Ancient South American Armored Mammal Fossil | url = http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071214002808.htm | accessdate = 2007-12-14] . When thePanama isthmus formed about three million years ago, several species, such as "Glyptotherium texanum ", spread north as part of theGreat American Interchange , as did pampatheres and armadillos.The main feature of glyptodonts was their
tortoise -like body armour that was made of bone segments calledosteoderm s orscute s. Each species of glyptodont had its own unique osteoderm pattern and shell type. With this protection, they were armored liketurtles , but unlike most turtles, could not withdraw their heads, so they developed a bony cap on the top of their skull. Even the tail of glyptodonts had a ring of bones for protection. "Doedicurus ", even possessed a large mace-like tail that it would have used to defend itself from other "Doedicurus" and predators. Glyptodonts also had size on their side; many such as thetype genus , "Glyptodon ", were the size of cars. Such heavy defenses presupposes a large, effective predator. At the time the Glyptodontids evolved, the top predator in the island continent of South America werePhorusrhacidae , a family of giant flightless carnivorous birds.The Glyptodonts were grazing
herbivore s. Like many otherXenarthra ns, they had noincisor or canine teeth, but had a number of cheek teeth that would have been able to grind up tough vegetation, such as grasses. They also had distinctively deep jaws, with large downward bony projections that would have anchored powerful chewing muscles in life. [cite book |editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals|publisher= Marshall Editions | location=London |pages= 208 |isbn= 1-84028-152-9]Glyptodonts went extinct at the end of the last
Ice Age along with a large amount of othermegafauna including thegiant ground sloth s, the bizarre "Macrauchenia " and other megafauna with which they shared their homes. Their more lightly-armored and flexible relatives, thearmadillo s, survived.In physical appearance glyptodonts superficially resembled the much earlier
dinosaur ian ankylosaurs, and to a lesser degree the recently extinct giant meiolaniid turtles ofAustralia , examples of theconvergent evolution of unrelated lineages into similar forms.Notes
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