Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Xenarthra
Family Glyptodontidae
Gender Glyptodon
Species of the genus Glyptodon, or simply gliptodons, are mammals of the edentulous order, extinct approximately 10,000 years ago and sharing a common ancestor with the armadillo.
With herbivorous habits, it was a very large and heavy animal - some reached 4 meters, more than 2 meters with a tail. with large spines and a ton and a half of body mass - and had a bony carapace, which helped to protect against predators.
It is believed that they lived from the end of the tertiary period to the beginning of the quaternary, first inhabiting only South America and then, about three million years ago, also occupying South America. North. They consider this animal to be one of the largest mammals on this continent and are mentioned in several legends of the Tehuelche Indians, from Patagonia, proving that they coexisted with humans, being even a plentiful source of food.
By Mariana Araguaia
Brazil School Team
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"Extinct animals" section
