Did giant ice age beasts carve these vast caves in South America?

3 min read Original article ↗
  • NEWS FEATURE

Researchers are investigating who — or what — cut ancient tunnels in sandstone in Brazil and nearby nations.

By

  1. Meghie Rodrigues

    1. Meghie Rodrigues is a freelance journalist in Paraná, Brazil.

Three researchers and guides look at mysterious cave markings in Brazil.

Inside the Armadillo’s Den, a giant palaeoburrow in southern Brazil. Credit: Rafael Lange for Nature

At age 75, Vadevino Alano keeps up a brisk pace as he strides through the forest on the way to the Armadillo’s Den — a spectacular cave in southern Brazil. When he reaches the cave’s opening, Alano is dwarfed by the size of the hole, which is big enough to accommodate a van.

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

$32.99 / 30 days

cancel any time

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 637, 1036-1037 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-00216-x

References

  1. Frank, H. T. et al. Espeleo-Tema 23, 87–101 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Lopes, R. P., Frank, H. T., Buchmann, F. S. de C. & Caron, F. Ichnos 24, 133–145 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Vizcaíno S. F., Zárate, M., Bargo, M. S. & Dondas, A. Acta Palaeontol. Polonica 46, 289–301 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Valdati, J., Bechtel, A. P., Villaça Gomes, M. C., Zahdi Ricetti, J. H. & Weinschütz, L. C. Revista Bras. Geogr. Fís. 17, 1905–1920 (2024; in Portuguese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Subjects

Latest on: