A fossilized incomplete skull from the Natural History Museum of Denmark collection reveals a new glyptodont genus that was previously unrecognized, known as Glyptherium. This genus once inhabited South America.
Paleoindians who hunt glyptodonts, relatives of armadillos that lived during the Pleistocene. Written by Heinrich Harder, 1920.
The newly identified species, Glypterium deuterofructum, existed in the regions of South America from Brazil to Venezuela between 60,000 and 17,000 years ago.
This particular animal belonged to the group of glyptodonts, massive, heavily armored creatures that were ancestors to modern armadillos, with some growing to the size of small cars.
Paleontologist Edison Vicente Oliveira and his team from the Federal University of Pernambuco pointed out that giant sloths and glyptodonts were prominent in the Brazilian Pleistocene era fossil records.
The holotype skull of Glypterium deuterofructum was collected by Danish naturalist Peter Wilhelm Lund in Brazil’s Lagoa Santa Cave during the 19th century.
Initially cataloged as NHMD 2045557 and later examined by Danish scientist Johannes Reinhardt, it was classified in 1875 as ‘Schistosoma euphractum‘.
Through a comparative study, Dr. Vicente Oliveira and his co-authors determined that the characteristics of the Brazilian glyptodont warranted the naming of a new species, Glypterium deuterofructum.
This species was found in northeastern, southeastern, and northern Brazil, extending into northern South America.
The research emphasizes the importance of revisiting museum collections to uncover hidden biodiversity, such as the case of this new glyptodont species from Brazil.
The detailed findings were published in the August 15th edition of the Mammal Evolution Journal.
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EV Oliveira others. 2026. The neglected Reinhardt glyptodont from Lagoa Santa, Brazil: Reassessment of its taxonomic status and description of a new species. Glyptherium. J. Mumm. Evol 33, 41; doi: 10.1007/s10914-026-09836-0
Source: www.sci.news
