Three Banded Armadillo
(Tolypeutes matacus)
Order: Xenartha
Family: Dasypodidae
Genus: Tolypeutes
Species: Tolypeutes matacus
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HABITAT AND RANGE:
There are two species of three-banded
armadillos. The species, T. matacus
lives in central and eastern Bolivia,
the Mato Grasso of Central Brazil, chaco
region of Paraguay, northern and central
Argentina. They are found in grassy or
marshy areas between scattered
forestland. This armadillo does not
appear to dig its own burrows, but
instead uses abandoned anteater burrows
as shelter. The species T. tricinctus
lives in tropical forests on chalky
grounds, and in the Caatinga and Cerrado
of Brazil.
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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Three-banded armadillos are blackish
brown in color. Most individuals have
three movable bands, but some have only
two bands and others have four. The head
and body length can range from 8.5
inches to 12 inches in length, with a
2-3 inch tail. The three-banded
armadillo can weigh 2-3.5 pounds. The
second, third and fourth toes of the
hind foot are grown together, almost
like a hoof. The first and fifth toes
remain separate. T. matacus has
four toes on the fore foot, and T.
tricinctus has five. At the Ross
Park Zoo we have the species of
Tolypeutes matacus. |
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ADAPTATIONS:
Members of the genus tolypeutes are the
only armadillos that can completely
enclose themselves in their own shell by
rolling into a ball. The large front and
rear portions of the shell are not
attached to the skin on the sides,
providing ample free space to fit the
head, legs and tail into the shell when
they are rolled up. Three-banded
armadillos generally walk on the tips of
their foreclaws, even when running.
These claws on the forefeet are very
strong. They are primarily solitary,
although groups of up to 12 have been
observed sharing the same den site
during cold spells.
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DIET:
Three-banded armadillos principally eat
beetle larvae, although ants and
termites are an important portion of the
diet during the dry season (July to
November). Insects are obtained by
burrowing into ground nests or under the
bark of rotting trees. Armadillos also
include a significant amount of fruit in
their diet during the wet season. |
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REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:
Armadillos generally have litters
between November and January, where
after a gestation period of 120 days on
young is born. The young are born fully
formed, resembling miniature adults, and
can walk and roll into a ball
immediately from birth. Young are weaned
at 72 days, and are sexually mature at
9-12 months of age. Some individuals
have lived 20 years or more in
captivity. |
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STATUS IN WILD:
They are stable in the wild. |
