* Threatened or Endangered
Southern Three-Banded Armadillo *
: Tolypeutes matacus
: Mammal
: South American temperate grasslands and tropical savannahs
: Insects
: 2.2-3.5 lbs, 8.7-10.6 inches
:
• Southern three-banded armadillos are the only species of armadillos that can roll into a complete ball to defend themselves.
• The shell covering its body is armored and the outer layer is made out of keratin.
•Unlike most armadillos, they do not dig their own burrows. These animals like to use abandoned anteater burrows, or they make their dens under dense vegetation.
• When foraging these Southern armadillos use their strong legs and large claws. They dig through insect colonies or under bark to get to their food.