Mammal
Southern Three-banded Armadillo
Tolypeutes matacusAlso known as La Plata Three-banded Armadillo, Azara's Domed Armadillo
Equipped with heavily armored keratinous plates, this curious mammal is one of only two armadillo species capable of rolling into an impenetrable, perfectly sealed sphere when threatened. Unlike most armadillos that burrow underground to escape danger, it walks on the tips of its sturdy front claws and wanders open grasslands in search of insect prey. When curled tightly shut, the interlocking head and tail shields leave zero vulnerable flesh exposed to predators.
ArmoredNocturnalInsectivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyTermites, Ants, Beetle Larvae
Predators
- Jaguar
- Maned Wolf
- Cougar
ThreatsHabitat conversion for agriculture and hunting for meat
HabitatsDry forests, Gran Chaco scrublands, and savannahs
Life span12–15 years in the wild (up to 20 years in captivity)
Classification
- OrderCingulata
- FamilyDasypodidae
- GenusTolypeutes
- SpeciesTolypeutes matacus
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Possesses sharp digging claws that can scratch if grabbed; observe from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Look for three articulated middle bands, a domed yellowish-gray shell, and claw-tiptoe locomotion.
- Support conservation
- Do not chase or touch rolled individuals, as persistent harassment causes severe thermal and metabolic stress.
Responsible observation
- Observation Distance: Keep several paces back to avoid triggering its tight rolling defense.
- Nocturnal Spotting: Use a soft red flashlight during warm evenings to view natural foraging.
Competitor "six-banded armadillo" by Gonzalo Rodriguez is licensed under CC BY 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. · cc-by
Predator (c) Rigelus, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Mario Barroso, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mario Barroso · cc-by
Family Relative Guillaume Delaitre / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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