Page 16 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

Armadillos (little armoured ones) are a small species of armoured mammals found in sev-
eral genera in the Families Dasypodidae and Chlamyphorinae. There is a recognised 21 species
of Armadillo. All are found in the southern part of the
Americas, with the Nine banded armadillo the only spe-
cies found in the southern part of the United States,
whereas the majority of the species are spread across the
countries of South America, with Paraguay hosting
around eleven species. They come in various sizes with
the Giant armadillo growing to around 150 cm in length,
while the Pink Fairy grows to a tiny 15 cm. Armadillos
are believed to have appeared some 66 million years ago
in South America and migrated into the north during the
Great American Interchange some 3 million years ago.

The Armadillos bodies are covered with bony overlap-
ping scales called "scutes" that protect the animal if at-
tacked or it has to hide in a thorny bushy outcrop. A var-
ying number of flexible bands encircle the centre of their
torso that helps in the movement of their otherwise rigid
(See: Classification) armoured bodies. The three, six, and nine banded arma-
Family Dasypodidae. dillos are named for the number of flexible bands they
Subfamily Dasypodinae have. The armadillos’ underside is not so well protected with some being
Genus Dasypus: white and fleshy and others covered with fur or hair. They have four
Great long-nosed… short but stout legs with feet sprouting clawed toes, four on the hind feet
Hairy long-nosed… and five more heavily clawed toes on the front. They use these claws to
Llanos long-nosed… ward-off predators, for burrowing and digging for food. When threat-
Nine-banded… ened, Armadillos can move very fast, and if no thorny outcrop is nearby,
Seven-banded… they can, very quickly dig a hole or burrow and use their armoured back
Southern long-nosed… to block the entrance, protecting their soft underside. Only one species,
Yepes’s mulita… the Tolypeutes – they do not dig burrows – are able to roll into a ball for
Family Chlamyphorinae protection.

Genus Calyptophractus. Armadillos are very short sighted but have a
Greater fairy… keen sense of smell and subsequently spend a
Genus Chlamyphorus. lot of time sniffing the ground and digging for
Pink fairy… food. For the majority of the species, their diet
Subfamily Euphractinae consists of insects, grubs, and other inverte-
Genus Chaetophractus. brates. However, some species feed almost en-
Andean hairy… tirely on ants and termites. Over time this type
Big Hairy… of soft diet, has affected the make-up of their
Screaming hairy… teeth. They have no molars, incisors or canine
Genus Euphractus: teeth, only rows of peg-like chewing teeth, and
Six-banded… unlike other mammals their teeth have no
Genus Zaedyus: enamel covering.
Pichi Apart from their prolific digging for food, ar-
Subfamily Tolypeutinae
madillos also dig burrows. These underground
Genus Cabassous homes are usually long tunnel like structures
Chacoan naked-tailed… wide enough for the armadillo’s body to fit in snuggly. However, this dig-
Greater naked-tailed… ging and burrowing has generated a lot of complaints from local farmers
Northern naked-tailed… who claim the Armadillos incessant digging and burrowing is damaging
Southern naked-tailed… to their crops.
Genus Priodontes:
Giant…
Genus Tolypeutes:
Brazilian three-banded…
Southern three-banded…