glyptodont

The Glyptodon was a genus of extinct giant mammals that lived during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs, approximately 5.3 million to 11,700 years ago. These creatures are related to modern-day armadillos and were found in North and South America.1

Glyptodonts were characterized by their thick, protective armor, which resembled a turtle's shell but was made of bony plates, similar to an armadillo's covering. The body shell could reach up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length. Their armored tails could be used as a weapon, and in some related species, the tail tip was a bony knob, sometimes spiked. Glyptodonts had a varied diet, consuming plants, carrion, and insects.1