Fernbank Museum Showcases 500 Million Years of Armor Evolution

This fall, Fernbank Museum is suiting up for its newest exhibit, Armored Animals, which explores 500 million years of armor evolution through a collection of models, dioramas, objects and other displays.

Protection versus predation is a continuing competition that has driven evolution for millions of years. From fish and insects to reptiles and mammals, defensive necessity has resulted in the evolution of armor in almost all groups of animals.

Armored Animals brings together a fascinating, eclectic mix of creatures all bound by their similar use of armor. The rise of armor in the animal kingdom is illustrated by dozens of pieces, including fantastic casts from recent dinosaur discoveries, giant insect sculptures and bizarre ice age mammals. From primitive ocean dwellers to armor adaptation by ancient humans, the exhibit brings the story of armor full circle.

Visitors can investigate a skull from the legendary “super croc” Sarcosuchus and a full-scale skeletal replica of the giant crocodilian, Deinosuchus. The exhibit also features one of the largest collections of Ankylosaur skulls and skeletal casts ever assembled, an ice age tortoise, glyptodonts and the armored animals’ fearsome predators, including tyrannosaurs and the Utahraptor, a large, predatory dinosaur known for its formidable toe claws.

Armored Animals also demonstrates how nature’s innovations continue to influence humans, revealing how they have adopted the same defensive techniques as animals, from helmets to armored suits.

“Guests will be surprised by the ingenuity of the natural world and the inspiration that humans have drawn from its biodiversity,” said Miranda Shealy, the Armored Animals content expert for Fernbank Museum. “This new exhibit brings together an exciting collection of some of nature’s most impressive forms of armor that have evolved throughout time and in animals of all shapes and sizes.”

Armored Animals is on view through Jan. 5, 2025. In addition to being available during daytime admission, the exhibit will also be featured on select evenings during WildWoods: AGLOW.

WildWoods: AGLOW, which opens Nov. 8, is an immersive, multi-sensory experience that uses dramatically artistic, glowing scenes and original music compositions to immerse guests into a nighttime wonderland of biodiversity. For more information about everything Fernbank has to offer, including giant screen movies and events, visit fernbankmuseum.org.