Glyptotherium (name meaning "Carved Beast") is a genus of glyptodont that lived from the Early Pliocene, about 4 million years ago, to the Early Holocene, around 7,000 years ago, in the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, Venezuela, and Brazil.
In the Series 3 episode "Saving the Sabre Tooth," a group of Glyptotherium were brought to the park from Late Pleistocene North America 30,000 years ago. They reside in the Ape Man Jungle Enclosure.
In the Series 3 finale "Mammoth's Undertaking Journey II: The Eternal Frontier", a Glyptotherium was seen grazing on vegetation in Late Pleistocene North America 11,000 years ago.
Facts[]
Era & Discovery[]
The Glyptotherium lived in North and South America during the Early Pliocene to Late Pleistocene 4 million to 10,000 years ago where it lived alongside other animals such as Smilodon, Arctodus, Arctotherium, the American Lion, Megalonyx, Phorusrhacos, Doedicurus, Toxodon, Macrauchenia, the American Mastodon, and even the mighty Woolly and Columbian Mammoths.
Physical Attributes[]
Glyptotherium stood 130 cm tall and weighed 400 kg, making as much as a small car.
Like all glyptodonts, Glyptotherium had armor made of bony scales similar to those that cover some reptiles like alligators and was used to protect themselves from predators. However Glyptotherium were not reptiles, but a mammal. They had extremely sturdy legs and five toes on each foot to spread their massive weight. Glyptotherium's heavy tail which was covered in armor probably acted as a counterbalance. Because of their massive body and armor, they were not built for speed, but inside all that body armor, people would imagine the Glyptotherium was well protected.
Glyptotherium all other glyptodonts were related to armadillos which also had armor made of scales. However unlike their cousins which had armor that was flexible, Glyptotherium's armor was fused in a solid shell like tortoise and was extremely heavy.
Glyptotherium skeleton
Behavior & Traits[]
Like all glyptodonts, Glyptotherium lived a solitary life and only got together during mating. Like their armadillo cousins, they had poor eyesight.
Journal Entry[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The sound effects of Glyptotherium are that of bull, moose, walrus and wild pig sound effects.
- Glyptotherium is the third and last Glyptodont brought to the park.