Glyptodon Scute - Hand-Held Specimens

Glyptodons were heavily armored mammals originating in the Pliocene Epoch three million years ago. With their interlocked osteoderms forming a massive shell, plus a spiked tail for use in combat, Glyptodons and Giant Armadillos flourished across the Americas up until just over 10,000 years ago when they were hunted by humans migrating into the continents.  Hand-held specimens are available in two sizes: Small - With a maximum length under 1.5", the Small scutes are slim enough to fit into our glass-topped riker box display cases. The case measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/2". Like the Medium size, they are easy to handle. Medium - Medium scutes measure 1.5-2" in length. They are too thick for a riker case. Rather, these hand-held specimens ship in sturdy cartons and are meant for open display. Both sizes come with small photo display cards. The cards serve as the certificate of authenticity and include information about the specimen on the reverse side. Please note: Each boxed specimen is a unique fossil that originally formed part of the tiled armor of a living creature. As such, they vary in shape and color. Some are compact, and others are a bit longer. Their hexagonal patterning allowed these osteoderms to interlock together to form a protective shell. The shell protected Glyptodons from predators and even members of their own species when they faced off in conspecific duels.