Tatou, Ocarro, Tatu-canastra, Tatu Carreta
The Giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is the largest living species of armadillo that lives in South America. It prefers termites and some ants as prey and often consumes the entire population of a termite mound. This species is considered vulnerable to extinction.
No
NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Ca
CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
In
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...
My
MyrmecophagousMyrmecophagy is a feeding behavior defined by the consumption of termites or ants, particularly as pertaining to those animal species whose diets a...
Te
TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Bu
BurrowingA 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 ...
Fo
FossorialA fossorial animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, ...
No
NomadicNomadic animals regularly move to and from the same areas within a well-defined range. Most animals travel in groups in search of better territorie...
Vi
ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Mo
MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
So
SolitaryNo
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.
G
starts withThe Giant armadillo has 11 to 13 hinged bands protecting the body and a further 3 or 4 on the neck. Its body is dark brown in color, with a lighter, yellowish band running along the sides, and a pale, yellow-white head. These armadillos have around 80 to 100 teeth, which is more than any other terrestrial mammal. The teeth are all similar in appearance, being reduced premolars and molars, growing constantly throughout life, and lacking enamel. They also possess extremely long front claws, including a sickle-shaped third claw up to 22 cm (8.7 in) in length, which are proportionately the largest of any living mammal. The tail is covered in small rounded scales and does not have the heavy bony scutes that cover the upper body and top of the head. The Giant armadillo is almost entirely hairless, with just a few beige-colored hairs protruding between the scutes.
Giant armadillos are widely distributed over southeastern Venezuela, the Guianas, northeastern Brazil, Paraguay and northern parts of Argentina. They live in a variety of habitats, preferring, however, areas with a large population of termites. They can occasionally be seen in arid and semi-arid woodlands, savannas, tropical and subtropical rainforests as well as Brazilian floodplains.
Giant armadillos are mainly nocturnal animals. They usually forage alone and socialize only for mating. When another Giant armadillo appears on its home range, this animal does not defend the territory, preferring to simply ignore the intruder. Giant armadillos are terrestrial mammals. They dig large burrows for resting, using their third claws, which act like spades. They can keep balance, standing on their hind legs and tail. Due to this ability, they are able to reach out to termite mounds (they frequently use this technique when warding off predators). After destroying the mound, the armadillo will arrange itself under the remains of the mound, staying there for up to 24 hours and then moving on.
Giant armadillos are carnivores (insectivores. myrmecophages).Their usual diet primarily consists of termites, though they can also consume ants, spiders, larvae, worms, and carrion.
Presently, quite a bit is known about the mating habits of this species. Giant armadillos are monogamous, mating once in a breeding season. It's not known if they breed seasonally or not. However, the gestation period lasts 4 months, yielding a single baby (rarely two), which is born with tough skin and can weigh up to 113 g. After 4-6 weeks, the baby is fully weaned, becoming independent. Reproductive maturity is reached at the age of 9-12 months.
Giant armadillo attracts hunters for its meat and primarily – for subsistence. The animal is threatened by loss of habitat due to deforestation. Being considered a pest, this animal is frequently killed by farmers throughout the area of its habitat. And finally, the species is threatened by illegal trade, being captured and sold to wealthy animal collectors.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Giant armadillo total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
The Giant armadillo is the key species, controlling the population of termites throughout its range, thus helping the ecosystem keep balance. In addition, due to being strong diggers, these animals greatly contribute to soil aeration.
