Peltephilus fossil map
Where fossils of Peltephilus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 15 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 33.9–11.63 million years ago (Rupelian to Serravallian) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene |
| Family | Peltephilidae |
| Named by | Ameghino 1887 |
| Fossil records | 74 occurrences at 27 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina, Bolivia, Chile |
| Rock formations | Santa Cruz, Sarmiento, Collón Cura, Salla, Agua de la Piedra, Chucal |
About Peltephilus
Peltephilus, the horned armadillo, is an extinct genus of armadillo xenarthran mammals that first inhabited Argentina during the Oligocene epoch, and became extinct in the Miocene epoch. Notably, the scutes on its head were so developed that they formed horns. Aside from the horned gophers of North America, it is the only known fossorial horned mammal.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Peltephilus (revision 1360716901), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q846386.
