Description
Armadillos are one of the oldest groups of mammals and have a quirky appearance, possessing a tough shell composed of bony plates in the dermis covered by horny scales. The giant armadillo is the largest living species of this group, and has 11 to 13 hinged bands protecting the body, and a further three or four on the neck. Its body is dark brown in colour, 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 mammal. They also possess extremely long front claws, including a sickle-shaped third claw.
Habitat
This terrestrial species is found close to water within undisturbed primary rain forest habitats. It excavates burrows, usually in grasslands or open areas of the forest. It is generally patchily distributed in suitable habitat. The generation length is not known, but is estimated to be between six and ten years.
Distribution
The giant armadillo is found in a large area in South America, in a big area in Brazil. The species may be extinct in Uruguay. The armadillo is endangered because lots of people like to hunt it for meat. If the deforestation goes on threatening their habitat, the giant armadillos might disappear quickly. Another threat is the illegal hunting. It may be a serious problem if hunters sell lot of them to rich collectors around the world. Population
The giant armadillo appears to be naturally rare where it occurs, appearing here and there. If you see one, you may be very lucky because it´s very difficult. The species might have declined by at least 50% over the last decade. This species is present in many protected areas. if we decrease hunting pressure and maintain the habitat where viable population occur, the number of giant armadillos might even increase.
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