Hairy Glyptodon?

Mammals do some strange things... Armadillos for instance exhibit protective bony plates. These bony plates are called osteoderms. Armadillos belong to the order Xenarthra and the group Cingulata, which includes some very peculiar fossil forms; the Glyptodonts and Pampatheres. All members of this group exhibit some form of osteoderm, and until recently little was known of the morphological and histological diversity of these osteoderms. December's issue in the Journal of Morphology features an article by Robert Hill on the comparative anatomy of these strange structures, and how they might have operated in life, utilizing armadillos as modern analogues. One of the fascinating things about these osteoderms is the little openings covering the surface. These openings allowed hair follicles and sweat to pass through the armor.


Hill, Robert V. (2006). Comparative anatomy and histology of xenarthran osteoderms. Journal of Morphology. 267:12 pg. 1441-1460.