Tolypeutes matacus, Photo: Michael Lahanas
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Ordo: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohort: Theria
Cohort: Eutheria
Cohort: Placentalia
Superordo: Xenarthra
Ordo: Cingulata
Familia: Chlamyphoridae
Subfamilia: Tolypeutinae
Genus: Tolypeutes
Species: Tolypeutes matacus
Name
Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarest, 1804)
Type locality: Argentina, Tucumán, Tucumán (Sanborn, 1930)
Synonyms
Tolypeutes conurus I. Geoffroy, 1847
Tolypeutes muriei Garrod, 1878
Dasypus apar (Desmarest, 1822)
Dasypus brachyurus (G. Fischer, 1814)
Dasypus octodecimcinctus (Molina, 1782)
Dasypus aparoides Gervais, 1869
Tolypoides bicinctus (Grandidier & Neveu-Lemaire, 1905)
References
Tolypeutes matacus 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.
Tabl. Meth. Hist. Nat., in Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat. 24: 28.
Wilson, D.E. & Reeder, D.M. (eds.) 2005. Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore. 2 volumes. 2142 pp. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. Reference page.
IUCN: Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarets, 1804) (Near Threatened)
Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarest, 1804) – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
English: Southern three-banded armadillo
español: Quirquincho bola
polski: Bolita południowa
português: tatu-mataco, tatu-bola, tatuapara, apara, apar
Türkçe: Üç kemerli armadillo
The southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus), also known as La Plata three-banded armadillo or Azara's domed armadillo,[2] is an armadillo species from South America.[3] It is found in parts of southwestern Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia, at elevations from sea level to 770 m (2,530 ft).[1]
The southern three-banded armadillo and the other member of the genus Tolypeutes, the Brazilian three-banded armadillo, are the only species of armadillos capable of rolling into a complete ball to defend themselves (volvation). The three characteristic bands that cover the back of the animal allow it enough flexibility to fit its tail and head together, allowing it to protect its underbelly, limbs, eyes, nose and ears from predators. The shell covering its body is armored and the outer layer is made out of keratin, the same protein that builds human fingernails. They are typically a yellow or brownish color. They are among the smaller armadillos, with a head-and-body length of about 22 to 27 cm (8.7 to 10.6 in) and a weight between 1 and 1.6 kg (2.2 and 3.5 lb).[4] Unlike most armadillos, they are not fossorial,[1] but will use abandoned giant anteater burrows.[4]
The three-banded armadillo has a long, sticky, straw-like pink tongue that allows it to gather up and eat many different species of insects, typically ants and termites. In captivity, armadillos also eat foods such as fruits and vegetables.
The species is threatened by habitat destruction from conversion of its native Dry Chaco to farmland, and from hunting for food and the pet trade.[1]
Gallery
Individual in the process of curling up
Individual rolled up into a defensive ball
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tolypeutes matacus.
Wikispecies has information related to Tolypeutes matacus.
Noss, A.; Superina, M.; Abba, A.M. (2014). "Tolypeutes matacus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T21974A47443233. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T21974A47443233.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
"Southern three-banded armadillo". Xenarthrans.org.
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. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Armadillo Online: Tolypeutes matacus. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
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