Very large armadillo
Pampatherium humblodti
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Chordata
Mammalia
Cingulata
Chlamyphoridae
Pampatheriidae
Pampatherium humblodti
The Armored Grazer of the Pleistocene Pampas, Pampatherium humboldti, was a giant relative of modern armadillos, covered in a shell of bony armor plates that protected it from predators like saber-toothed cats and humans. Unlike its smaller cousins, this ancient pampathere was a formidable herbivore that once shaped the grassy ecosystems of South America.
Description
Pampatherium humboldti bore a resemblance to a massive armadillo but was distinct in several ways: it had flexible armor bands that allowed limited mobility, enormous claws for digging roots and tubers, and a skull built for grinding fibrous vegetation. Its range extended from southern Brazil and Uruguay to Argentina, thriving in open grasslands and savannas during cooler, drier Pleistocene climates.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
210
1.2
1.8
2.5
kg
m
m
m
Mixed Feeder
Herbivores – Root/Tuber Feeders
Hunt History
Evidence suggests Pampatherium humboldti was hunted by early humans who valued its thick armor and meat. Cut marks on osteoderms (armor plates) and bones have been found at archaeological sites, indicating butchery. Its large size and relatively slow speed would have made it vulnerable to persistence hunting or ambush tactics by early Paleo-Indians.
Archaeological Evidence:
Lagoa Santa, Brazil (~12,000 years ago): Bones with cut marks suggest human processing.
Pampa Grande, Argentina (~11,500 years ago): Fossilized armor plates found near hearths and stone tools.
Uruguay River Basin (~10,800 years ago): Assemblages of Pampatherium remains associated with human hunting camps.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Globally Extinct
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
10000
BP
Late Pleistocene
South America
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
Low
Fat %
4
Est. Renderable Fat
8.4
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)
3