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
—observations
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—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Harvester Ants
- Termites
- Beetle Larvae
Predators
- Jaguars
- Pumas
- Humans
ThreatsHabitat destruction from agricultural expansion, hunting for meat, and pet trade exploitation.
HabitatsDry deciduous forests, thorn scrublands, and open grasslands of the Gran Chaco region.
Life span12 to 15 years in the wild, up to 20 years in captivity.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyDasypodidae
- SpeciesTolypeutes matacus
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a small, dome-shaped armadillo with three distinct movable bands and a yellow-brown shell.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a distance of at least five meters and never attempt to force open a rolled-up individual.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Distant Cousin "Nine-banded Armadillo" by leppyone is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Co-occurring Species "Screaming Hairy Armadillo" by tr.robinson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
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