Tolypeutes

The genus Tolypeutes contains the two species of three-banded armadillos. They are restricted to open and semi-open habitats in South America.

Tolypeutes
Southern three-banded armadillo
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cingulata
Family: Chlamyphoridae
Subfamily: Tolypeutinae
Genus: Tolypeutes
Illiger, 1811
Type species
Dasypus tricinctus
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

See text

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:[1]

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarest, 1804)Southern three-banded armadillonorthern Argentina, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia
Tolypeutes tricinctus (Linnaeus, 1758)Brazilian three-banded armadilloBrazil

References
  1. "Tolypeutes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 March 2011.


  • Video of a three-banded armadillo rolling itself into a ball


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