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prettygoodwordglyptodon (GLIP-tuh-don) - n., an extinct South American mammal with tessellated scales and fluted teeth.
Closest modern relative is the armadillo -- and indeed, this looks like the megafauna equivalent of an armored armadillo. Not that the modern cousin isn't armored, but glyptodons had a hard, inflexible shell, unlike the armadillo's bands that allow it to curl up. They were also about the size of an ox, which armadillos most definitely are not. Wikipedia has the usual potted summary and pix. Name was badly coined from Greek roots glyptos, engraved/carved (verbal adjective of glyphein) + odon, tooth.
---L.
Closest modern relative is the armadillo -- and indeed, this looks like the megafauna equivalent of an armored armadillo. Not that the modern cousin isn't armored, but glyptodons had a hard, inflexible shell, unlike the armadillo's bands that allow it to curl up. They were also about the size of an ox, which armadillos most definitely are not. Wikipedia has the usual potted summary and pix. Name was badly coined from Greek roots glyptos, engraved/carved (verbal adjective of glyphein) + odon, tooth.
---L.
