It has suffered a 30% decline in population in the last 10 years. All species are native to the Americas, where they inhabit a variety of different environments. When threatened, they occasionally do not seal their armor completely, but wait until they are touched. The Brazilian three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus) is an armadillo species endemic to eastern Brazil, where it is known as tatu-bola (Portuguese pronunciation: [tɐˈtu ˈbɔlɐ], lit. They are rarely seen west of 50°W longitude. It is one of only two species of armadillo that can roll into a ball (the other is the southern three-banded armadillo). [4], The main staples of its diet are ants and termites, which it can smell through up to 20 centimeters of soil. They then quickly snap shut in an effort to startle the predator. The young armadillo is weaned at 10 weeks and reaches sexual maturity at 9–12 months. [4], The mating season lasts from October to January, during which there is a brief courtship before mating. Official announcement came in September 2012. An armadillo ball is what it sounds like: an armadillo rolled up in a ball. The teeth are soft and peg-like, adapted solely for smashing the exoskeletons of insects. There is an abundance of cactus-like plants in the northern reaches of its range. It was known as kwaráu in the extinct Huamoé language of the Serra Negra in Pernambuco State, Brazil,[2] and as ˈkʌ̨́ñíkį̀ in the extinct Kambiwá language of Barreira, Petrolândia, Pernambuco. It has suffered a 30% decline in population in the last 10 years. [4], As its name suggests, the Brazilian three-banded armadillo is indigenous to Brazil, living primarily in the northeastern part of the country, just south of the equator. Folding its body in half, the three-banded armadillo tucks its head and legs into its shell. When the armadillo rolls into a defensive ball, the ears are tucked into the shell and the head and tail interlock to seal the shell completely. The Brazilian three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus) is an armadillo species endemic to eastern Brazil, where it is known as tatu-bola (Portuguese pronunciation: [tɐˈtu ˈbɔlɐ], lit. This armor covers the back, sides, head, tail, ears, and outside surfaces of the legs. They are largely nocturnal, but have been known to forage during the day. It then curls its tail beside the head and pulls in tight. The loose armor also creates a layer of air between the shell and the body, which insulates the animal. They weigh 1–1.6 kg (2.2–3.5 lb). The genus Tolypeutes, which includes both the Brazilian and southern species of three-banded armadillos, is unique in the ability to roll up in a tight, almost impenetrable ball. Armadillos meaning "little armoured ones" in Spanish are New World placental mammals in the order Cingulata. This higher capacity for thermoregulation allows them to survive in climates too arid for some of the other armadillo species. ball armadillo). It is the only type of armadillo that can roll itself into a ball when endangered. The armor hardens by the third or fourth week, around the same time the eyes and earflaps open. Some armadillos are very small, while others are huge. An armadillo's armor is made up of overlapping plates covering the back, h… The Chlamyphoridae and Dasypodidae are the only surviving families in the order, which is part of the superorder Xenarthra, along with the anteaters and sloths. They prefer to rest under bushes, rather than dig burrows, and their ability to roll into a ball makes defensive digging unnecessary. [6], Miranda, F., Moraes-Barros, N., Superina, M. & Abba, A.M. (2014), "Fifa faz registro e confirma tatu-bola como mascote da Copa de 2014", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brazilian_three-banded_armadillo&oldid=959332058, Articles containing Portuguese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 28 May 2020, at 07:57. It is one of only two species of armadillo that can roll into a ball (the other is the southern three-banded armadillo). In March 2012, the Brazilian weekly, Veja, reported the three-banded armadillo would be the official mascot for the FIFA World Cup. There are 21 species of armadillo, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Adult pumas and jaguars are the only South American mammals powerful enough to be a natural threat. When they are not foraging, they move with a sort of trot, bouncing on the tips of their front toes, while their hind feet slap flatly on the ground. The underside of the body and the inner surfaces of the legs have no armored protection, and are covered instead by long, coarse hair. This is because their armor is slightly looser than that of other armadillo genera, which allows for greater freedom of movement. When it detects prey, it frantically digs a hole and thrust its nose into it, using its long, sticky tongue to lap up any insects it may find. The female carries the young for a gestation period of 120 days at the end of which single, blind offspring is born. [4], The defense system of the Brazilian three-banded armadillo makes it safe from the majority of predators. ball armadillo). [4], The Caatinga Association, a Brazilian environmental NGO, launched in January 2012 a national campaign proposing the three-banded armadillo to become mascot of the 2014 FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil. The newborn’s armor is soft, but its claws are fully developed, and it can walk and roll into a ball within hours of birth. [3], The Brazilian three-banded armadillo lives primarily in open savannahs (Cerrado) and dry woodlands (Caatinga), where low rainfall and poor soil limit the vegetation to tall, woody grasses, scattered bushes, and gnarled trees. All the armadillos are spectacular diggers, but unlike most of the other species, three-banded armadillos do not dig in defense or to find shelter. The real danger to armadillos is the destruction of their habitats to make room for livestock. Other foods include mollusks, worms, fruit, and carrion. Nine extinct genera and 21 extant species of armadillo have been described, some of which are distinguished by the number of bands on their armour. [5] The armor is composed of ossified dermal scutes covered by nonoverlapping, keratinized epidermal scales, which are connected by flexible bands of skin. Read why an armadillo ball is more than a shape -- it's a defensive tactic. It finds food by shuffling slowly along with its nose to the ground. [4], Armadillos are chiefly solitary, but this species will occasionally travel in small family groups of up to three members. [4], Brazilian three-banded armadillos have a head-and-body length of about 22 to 27 cm (8.7 to 10.6 in) and the tail is between 6 and 8 cm (2.4 and 3.1 in) long. They mark their territories with secretions from glands on their face, feet, and rump. The smallest is the pink fairy armadillo, which is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. The three-banded armadillo has another trick up its armor, however. Giant armadillos are the largest species, and are about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, according to National Geographic.
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