Glyptodont
Neosclerocalyptus paskoensis
🦛
Chordata
Mammalia
Cingulata
Chlamyphoridae
Glyptodontidae
Neosclerocalyptus paskoensis
The Pneumatized Armored Giant — Neosclerocalyptus paskoensis, a glyptodont whose expanded nasal sinuses hint at adaptations to cold, dry Pleistocene landscapes.
Description
Neosclerocalyptus paskoensis was a medium-sized glyptodont that lived during the Pleistocene epoch in South America, primarily in what is now Argentina. Like other glyptodonts, it possessed a distinctive armored carapace composed of fused osteoderms, providing robust protection against predators. The carapace was elongated and low, featuring two lateral "wings" projecting forward near the cervical region. The osteoderms exhibited a "rosette" pattern, with a flat, sub-circular central figure surrounded by a single row of 7 to 10 polygonal peripheral figures. The tail was protected by four or five mobile rings and terminated in a bony tube, slightly curved upwards, covering ten vertebrae. The skull was strongly convex due to the development of frontal sinuses, and the nasal bones inclined downwards. The mandible's upright branch was wide and inclined forward. Its dentition included simple anterior teeth and trilobed posterior teeth.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
700
1.2
1.8
2.5
kg
m
m
m
Mixed Feeder
Herbivores – Root/Tuber Feeders
Hunt History
Recent / Notable Fossil Finds & Studies
In February 2025, bone fragments were discovered near San Eduardo del Mar (Buenos Aires province, Argentina), and paleontologists confirmed them as belonging to Neosclerocalyptus paskoensis. The specimen is juvenile, retaining parts of the dorsal shell and tail, with preservation good enough to analyze dermal ornamentation (i.e. the pattern on its armor plates).
A more debated yet significant find: glyptodont fossils of Neosclerocalyptus were found on the banks of the Reconquista River (near Merlo, Buenos Aires metro area), excavated ~2015, and radiocarbon-dated to ~21,000 years ago. Some of these armor and pelvic/tail bones show cut marks consistent with deliberate butchery.
A 2025 study also examined diagenetic alterations (i.e. post-burial chemical changes) in the carapace (the shell) of Neosclerocalyptus material from the Paraguayan Chaco, illuminating how fossilization affected the osteoderms (armor plates).
Classic reference specimens (e.g. MACN-Pv 18107) of N. paskoensis preserve the skull with ossified nasal cartilages and internal sinus structure, revealing the remarkable pneumatization trait in this species.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Globally Extinct
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
12000
BP
Late Pleistocene
South America
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
Low
Fat %
4
Est. Renderable Fat
28
kg
Targeted Organs
Tail-base fat, limb pockets
Adipose Depots
Tail-base pad, limb pockets; limited subcutaneous
Preferred Cuts
Tail-base depot
Hunt Difficulty (x/5)
4