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.

Autorentext

Carlos Adrián Quinta is a researcher at the Archaeology Laboratory of the National University of Mar del Plata and Director of the Southeast School of Naturalist Guides. His work has focused on the research of extinct rodent diversity from Pliocene and Pleistocene strata in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has also worked on zooarchaeology and taphonomy at archaeological sites in the Tandilia mountain range in Buenos Aires province.

He has published over 40 articles in national and international peer-reviewed scientific journals including: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology; International Journal of Paleopathology; Ameghiniana; Journal of Mammalogy; Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society; Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural; Mastozoología Neotropical; Historia Animalium, Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, Current Research in the Pleistocene and Latin American Antiquity.

Additionally, he is actively involved in public communication of science. He has published numerous articles and five books on paleontology, archaeology, paleoenvironments, history of science, and critical thinking (one of which was awarded by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Productive Innovation of the Nation in 2011).