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 e
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 the deforestation done in their native land of Brazil, including the hunting by the locals. Despite this defense mechanism, they lack the ability to dig burrows such as their competition in that environment; instead they will look for abandoned burrows. Deforestation is the main concern due to their downfall with digging burrows since they have nowhere to hide from predators or even locals.

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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