It's Official: Glyptodonts Were Armadillos

Alessandra Kelley · Feb 22, 2016

http://www.bbc.com/news/35630712

Glyptodonts, large armored South American mammals which lived from the Miocene to the last Ice Age, looked like gigantic prehistoric armadillos. Now DNA analysis has shown that that is exactly what they were.

Dr Delsuc and his colleagues used computer predictions to reconstruct some likely DNA sequences of armadillo ancestors, based on the genes of living species.

They then made RNA "bait" based on these sequences and used it to fish for glyptodont DNA in a tiny, mashed-up sample of shell from a fossil in a Buenos Aires museum.

Dr Delsuc and his colleagues are confident they have resolved the position of the glyptodonts in the tree of life - and they are nestled deep in the "cingulata" order, among myriad branches of armadillos.

"Glyptodonts in fact represent an extinct lineage that likely originated 35 million years ago within the armadillo radiation," said co-author Hendrik Poinar from McMaster University, Canada.

Twick · Feb 25, 2016

Ok, I completely blanked out the glyptodont info on discovering that there is currently an animal alive called the "dwarf fairy pink armadillo", that looks like a furry shrimp.

Brightdreamer · Feb 25, 2016

So, could one theoretically tweak DNA in existing armadillos to create an army of glyptodonts?

I'm, um, asking for a friend...

Seriously, though, that's cool.

Helix · Feb 25, 2016

These guys probably don't need that much bioengineering, just a bit of training.

shakeysix · Feb 25, 2016

Armadillos are a pest in this part of the world. Next time one ambles onto the highway and bounces off my car bumper or roots up my garden I am going to thank god that it is not a glyptodont! And the next time my dog rolls in armadillo roadkill I am going to say a rosary with the joyful mysteries in thanksgiving! --s6

Albedo · Feb 25, 2016

Helix said:
These guys probably don't need that much bioengineering, just a bit of training.

Armydillos.

Helix · Feb 25, 2016

Albedo said:
Armydillos.

It's Official: Glyptodonts Were Armadillos

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

Twick

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist

Helix

socially distancing

shakeysix

blue eyed floozy

Albedo

Alex

Helix

socially distancing