Three-Banded Armadillo

Tolypeutes matacus

Animal Class: Mammals

Length: 12 inches, tail 2.5 inches

Weight: 3-3.5 pounds

Lifespan: 16.8 years average

Diet: Three-banded armadillos are insectivores and mostly eat ants and termites

Habitat: North-central Argentina, east-central Bolivia and parts of Brazil and Paraguay

Description: The southern three-banded armadillo has an armor of thick, leathery plates covering the head, back, feet and tail. This shell of modified skin is segmented with three bands, hence its name, allows the armadillo to roll into a complete ball when threatened. When curled up like this the top of the head and tail will lay next to each other. The middle three toes on the back feet are grown together and have a thick claw. The forefeet toes are separated with four claws.

Our Animals: Cachicamo (Cachi), Emma, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, and Chandler. Cachi and Emma are also Ambassador Animals.