The glyptodonts were quite unlike any other animal to roam the planet. Growing to the size of a small car and weighing over 1000kg they were covered in an impenetrable armour up to 5cm thick.

Meaning of scientific name
'Glyptodont' means 'grooved or carved tooth'

Pronunciation of scientific name
GLIP-toh-dont

Statistics
Height: 1.5m (5ft), Length: 3m (10ft), Weight: 1000kg. The South American species grew even larger.

Physical description
Glyptodonts were superficially similar to armadillos, but much larger, weighing almost as much as a car and covered in a thick rigid armour. They may even have had a nose resembling a tapir's.

Distribution
Glyptodonts originated in South America and spread northwards as far as southern North America. This particular species was found primarily in Florida.

Habitat
There is some evidence to suggest that they inhabited the emergent vegetation along the edges of water rather like modern day capybaras. Fossils of these two animals are often found together.

Diet
Glyptodonts were herbivorous. They have similar tooth structure to the capybara's and may have fed on similar waterside vegetation.

Behaviour
It is thought that glyptodonts were slow moving creatures that relied heavily on their thick armour to defend themselves against predators.

Conservation status
Glyptodonts lived during the Pleistocene era and became extinct 10,000 years ago.

Notes
Fossil scutes or scales that make up the glyptodont's armoured shell are found commonly in the fossil record.

Best place to see
Remains can be seen in the British Museum of Natural History (London), Florida Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Closest relative
Glyptodonts are distantly related to the much smaller armadillo.