Tail blow energy and carapace fractures in a large glyptodont (Mammalia, Xenarthra) |
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Authors: | R. MCNEILL ALEXANDER ,RICHARD A. FARIÑ A,SERGIO F. VIZCAÍ NO |
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Affiliation: | School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT;Departamento de Paleontologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica, Iguá4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay;Departmento Cientifico Paleontología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturalesy Museo, Universidad Macional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque sin, 1900 La Plata, Argentina |
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Abstract: | Glyptodonts had muscular tails terminating, in many cases, with a rigid bony sheath which, in Doedicurus and Panochthus, was a formidable club. Some carapaces show fractures which have been interpreted as resulting from intraspecific fights. We estimate the energy that the tail muscles could have supplied for a blow and the energy required to fracture the carapace, and obtain results of the same order of magnitude. Thus it is not unreasonable to interpret die observed damage as resulting from fights. A space between the thoracic and lumbar vertebral column and the carapace may have been occupied by a fatty pad which would have served as a protective cushion, reducing the force of impacts. |
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Keywords: | biomechanics paleobiology South America -megafauna fossil mammals fighting behaviour |
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