Springer The Natural History of Glyptodonts (Springer Earth System Sciences)

This book describes Glyptodonts, which are among the most intriguing and unusual xenarthrans that ever existed due to their divergent morphology compared to remaining mammals. If evolutionary processes had not given rise to the fascinating adaptations that shaped these peculiar creatures, not even the most audacious fantasy writer could have imagined them, even in their better creative moments. Glyptodonts are one of the most representative clades in South America throughout much of the Cenozoic; therefore, synthesizing knowledge of their anatomy, phylogenetic relationships, and paleogeography is a worthwhile undertaking. This is the first book to systematically address the diversity of the extraordinary anatomy of these armored mammals and to present complementary illustrations of specimens from almost all species. This book also explores the relationship between the diversity of glyptodonts with their phylogenetic relationships and the role of South American paleoenvironments in their geographic dispersion and fossil record. Additionally, it examines the relationship between these amazing animals and the first indigenous societies, contextualizing the most reliable archaeological information. Finally, the book describes the fluctuations of the study of glyptodonts over the last two centuries, exploring its history as a reflection of the history of vertebrate paleontology on the South American continent.