Cabassous unicinctus

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Superordo: Xenarthra
Ordo: Cingulata

Familia: Chlamyphoridae
Subfamilia: Tolypeutinae
Genus: Cabassous
Species: Cabassous unicinctus
Subspecies: C. u. squamicaudis – C. u. unicinctus
Name

Cabassous unicinctus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Original combination Dasypus unicinctus
Type locality: "Africa" restricted to "l'Amérique" by Buffon (1763), and to Surinam by Thomas (1911)

Synonyms

Dasypus undecimcinctus Illiger, 1815

References

Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiæ: impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii. i–ii, 1–824 pp DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.542: 50. Reference page.
Cabassous unicinctus in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Cabassous unicinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Least Concern)
Cabassous unicinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Vernacular names
català: Armadillo de cua nua meridional
English: Cabasu, Southern Naked-tailed Armadillo
español: Armadillo de cola desnuda meridional
Nederlands: Zuidelijk kaalstaartgordeldier
polski: Kabassu
português: Cabassous unicinctus
Runa Simi: Mullku
српски / srpski: Јужни голорепи оклопник

The southern naked-tailed armadillo (Cabassous unicinctus) is a species of small armadillo from South America.[2]
Description

Smaller than some other armadillos, males measure an average of 36 cm (14 in) in head-body length, and weigh around 3.0 kg (6.6 lb), while females are larger, measuring 38 cm (15 in) and weighing 3.8 kg (8.4 lb). The tail measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in both sexes, and has only tiny scales in its skin, unlike the larger scutes found in most other armadillo species.[3]

The upper body is covered by a dark grey bony carapace of squarish scutes. In the mid part of the body, this carapace is divided into a series of ten to thirteen mobile rings, giving the animal some degree of flexibility. Although there are some bristly hairs around the margins of the scutes, the tail and underside of the animal are hairless. The armour covers the back of the neck and extends onto the head between the ears. Smaller and thinner scales are also found on the cheeks and the outer surface of the ears. The snout is relatively short, and the ears large and funnel-like. There are five clawed toes on each foot, with the middle claws on the forefeet being particularly large.[3]
Distribution and habitat

Southern naked-tailed armadillos are found throughout northern South America east of the Andes, as far south as northern Paraguay and southern Brazil. They inhabit a range of habitats across this region, from tropical rain forest to swamp, cerrado, and open grasslands.[4]

Two subspecies are recognised:

Cabassous unicinctus squamicaudis Lund, 1845 - south of the Amazon River
Cabassous unicinctus unicinctus Linnaeus, 1758 - north of the Amazon

Biology and behaviour

Southern naked-tailed armadillos are solitary, and are said to be nocturnal in the tropics[4] but have been reported to be diurnal further south.[3] As are many armadillos, it is an insectivore, feeding almost entirely on ants and termites.[4] Reproduction occurs year-round,[5] and animals have lived up to seven years in captivity.[3]

The armadillos spend much of their time burrowing, digging burrows about 16 cm (6.3 in) in diameter. The outer parts of the burrow are rounded, since the animal initially rotates its body as it digs, but they become flatter about 45 cm (18 in) in from the entrance. They are typically located in termite mounds.[6]
References
Wikispecies has information related to Cabassous unicinctus.

Anacleto, T.C.S.; Moraes Tomas, W.; Superina, M. (2014). "Cabassous unicinctus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T3415A47437949. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T3415A47437949.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
Gardner, A.L. (2005). "Order Cingulata". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Hayssen, V. (2014). "Cabassous unicinctus". Mammalian Species. 46 (907): 16–23. doi:10.1644/907. S2CID 85842869.
Emmons, Louise H.; Feer, François (1997-09-02). Neotropical rainforest mammals. A field guide (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-0-226-20721-6. OCLC 44179508.
Bonato, V.E.; et al. (2008). "Ecology of the armadillos Cabassous unicinctus and Euphractus sexcinctus (Cingulata: Dasypodidae) in a Brazilian cerrado". Journal of Mammalogy. 89 (1): 168–174. doi:10.1644/06-MAMM-A-187.1.
Carter, T.S. & Encarnaçao, C.D. (1983). "Characteristics and use of burrows by four species of armadillos in Brazil". Journal of Mammalogy. 64 (1): 103–108. doi:10.2307/1380755. JSTOR 1380755.