The Brazilian three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus ) is an armadillo species endemic to eastern Brazil, where it is known as tatu-bola (Portuguese pronunciation: , lit. ball armadillo). It is one of only two species of armadillo that can roll into a ball (the other is the southern three-banded armadillo). It has suffered a 30% decline in population in the last 10 years.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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ScavengerScavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While sc...
Myrmecophagy is a feeding behavior defined by the consumption of termites or ants, particularly as pertaining to those animal species whose diets a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Brazilian three-banded armadillo is native to eastern Brazil, where it is known as tatu-bola ( ball armadillo). It is one of only two species of armadillo that can roll into a ball. Its armor is composed of ossified dermal scutes covered by nonoverlapping, keratinized epidermal scales, which are connected by flexible bands of skin. This armor covers the back of the animal and also sides, head, tail, ears, and outside surfaces of the legs. The underside of the body and the inner surfaces of the legs have no armored protection and are covered instead by long, coarse hair.
As their name suggests, Brazilian three-banded armadillos are indigenous to Brazil, living primarily in the northeastern part of the country, just south of the equator. They inhabit 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. There is also an abundance of cactus-like plants in the northern reaches of its range.
Brazilian three-banded armadillos are generally solitary, but may occasionally travel in small family groups of up to three members. They are largely nocturnal but have been known to forage during the day. 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. They prefer to rest under bushes, rather than dig burrows, and their ability to roll into a ball makes defensive digging unnecessary. 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. They mark their territories with secretions from glands on their face, feet, and rump. When threatened, they occasionally do not seal their armor completely but wait until they are touched. They then quickly snap shut in an effort to startle the predator.
Brazilian three-banded armadillos are carnivores (insectivores) and scavengers. Their diet includes mainly ants and termites, but they will also eat mollusks, worms, fruit, and carrion.
The breeding season of Brazilian three-banded armadillos occurs from October to January, during which there is a brief courtship before mating. After the gestation period of 120 days, the female gives birth to a single, blind offspring. 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. The armor hardens by the third or fourth week, around the same time the eyes and earflaps open. The young armadillo is weaned at 10 weeks and becomes reproductively mature at 9-12 months of age.
The major threat to Brazilian three-banded armadillos is the destruction of their habitats to make room for plantations and livestock grazing. These animals also suffer from heavy hunting, especially populations that live in protected areas.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Brazilian three-banded armadillo total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
