Species · GBIF taxon 2440792
Southern Three-banded Armadillo
Tolypeutes matacusAlso known as La Plata Three-banded Armadillo, Mataco, Bolivian Three-banded Armadillo
Southern three-banded armadillos are remarkable for their ability to roll into a completely sealed, impenetrable sphere when threatened, leaving no vulnerable underbelly exposed. They do not dig their own burrows, instead utilizing abandoned homes of other animals or nesting under dense vegetation. Their specialized, walk-on-tiptoe gait on their foreclaws allows them to travel efficiently across dry forests in search of insects.
ArmoredInsectivorousNocturnal
Licensed referenceHedwig Storch / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Insectivorous, primarily feeding on ants, termites, and beetle larvae extracted from rotting wood.
- family
- Dasypodidae
- threats
- Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion, hunting for meat, and pet trade exploitation.
- life Span
- 12 to 15 years in the wild, up to 20 years in captivity.
NT
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Populations are declining due to heavy hunting pressure and rapid habitat loss in the Gran Chaco.
Maintain a distance of at least five meters and never attempt to force open a rolled-up individual.- Observe quietly: Watch them forage from a distance to avoid triggering their defensive rolling behavior.
- Do not handle: Picking them up causes extreme stress and can damage their delicate shell joints.
- Listen closely: Listen for the soft rustling of dry leaves as they sniff out insects on the forest floor.