Southern three-banded armadillo

The southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus), also called the Bolivian three-banded armadillo, is an armadillo species from South America.[2] It is found in parts of northern Argentina, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, at elevations from sea level to 770 m (2,530 ft).[1]

Southern three-banded armadillo
Southern three-banded armadillo at the Louisville Zoo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cingulata
Family: Chlamyphoridae
Subfamily: Tolypeutinae
Genus: Tolypeutes
Species:
T. matacus
Binomial name
Tolypeutes matacus
(Desmarest, 1804)
Southern three-banded armadillo range
Three banded armadillo skeleton rolled in a ball. (Museum of Osteology)

The southern three-banded armadillo and the other member of the genus Tolypeutes, the Brazilian three-banded armadillo, are the only species of armadillos capable of rolling into a complete ball to defend themselves (volvation). The three characteristic bands that cover the back of the animal allow it enough flexibility to fit its tail and head together, allowing it to protect its underbelly, limbs, eyes, nose and ears from predators. The shell covering its body is armored and the outer layer is made out of keratin, the same protein that builds human fingernails. They are typically a yellow or brownish color. They are among the smaller armadillos, with a head-and-body length of about 22 to 27 cm (8.7 to 10.6 in) and a weight between 1 and 1.6 kg (2.2 and 3.5 lb).[3] Unlike most armadillos, they are not fossorial,[1] but will use abandoned giant anteater burrows.[3]

The three-banded armadillo has a long, sticky, straw-like pink tongue that allows it to gather up and eat many different species of insects, typically ants and termites. In captivity, armadillos also eat foods such as fruits and vegetables.

The species is threatened by habitat destruction from conversion of its native Dry Chaco to farmland, and from hunting for food and the pet trade.[1]

Individual in the process of curling up
Individual rolled up into a defensive ball

References
  1. Noss, A.; Superina, M.; Abba, A.M. (2014). "Tolypeutes matacus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T21974A47443233. Retrieved 13 February 2020.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Gardner, A.L. (2005). "Order Cingulata". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. Armadillo Online: Tolypeutes matacus. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
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