The genus Tolypeutes contains the two species of three-banded armadillos. They are restricted to open and semi-open habitats in South America.
Of the several armadillo genera, only Tolypeutes rely heavily on their armor for protection. When threatened by a predator, Tolypeutes species frequently roll up into a ball. Other armadillo species cannot roll up because they have too many plates. This species is endangered due to hunting and deforestation of its native Brazilian habitat. They lack the ability to dig burrows like their competitors, instead relying on abandoned ones. Deforestation is a critical concern because it reduces available burrows, leaving them exposed to predators and human activity.
Species
There are two recognized species:
References
- http://www.msu.edu/~nixonjos/armadillo/tolypeutes.html
- http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Xenarthra/Dasypodidae/Tolypeutes/index.html
- Melo, Siqueira, J. A., Santos, B. A., ÃÂlvares-da-Silva, O., Ceballos, G., & Bernard, E. (2014). Football and Biodiversity Conservation: FIFA and Brazil Can Still Hit a Green Goal. Biotropica, 46(3), 257âÂÂ259. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12114
- Deem, Sharon L., et al. âÂÂHealth Assessment of Free-Ranging Three-Banded (Tolypeutes Matacus) and Nine-Banded (Dasypus Novemcinctus) Armadillos in the Gran Chaco, Bolivia.â Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, vol. 40, no. 2, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, 2009, pp. 245âÂÂ56, https://doi.org/10.1638/2007-0120.1.
External links
- Video of a three-banded armadillo rolling itself into a ball