In addition, some Amazonian indigenous people use their hooves to make ornaments. This has resulted in the extermination of a large percentage of the population.Īlso, another threat is illegal hunting for clandestine sale to collectors, but this is difficult to quantify. Since armadillos are highly valued as a protein source, they are aggressively hunted. In addition to a loss of habitat, humans who hunt them for their meat are also a threat. Their overall population is unknown, but experts estimate there are six individuals per 100 square kilometers. Also, it has a low reproductive capacity and very specialized eating habits, due to its preferred diet of ants and colonial termites. The giant armadillo is a fragile species as it’s so scarce. They first prohibited hunting this animal in 1996 in a decree that establishes its indefinite ban. In Venezuela, it’s in danger and they named it a protected species in 1983. In Colombia, the giant armadillo is in danger of extinction in Paraguay and Argentina it’s in critical danger of extinction, and it’s also vulnerable in Peru and Ecuador. Also, it’s in Appendix I (near extinction) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This armadillo is considered to be in danger of extinction by the International Union of Conservation of Nature. The giant armadillo’s conservation status However, it also eats arthropod larvae, worms, spiders, snakes, and carrion. This allows them to reach high mounds of termites and to threaten predators.ĭue to its large size and strong armor, it doesn’t need to hide itself completely in its shell, unlike other armadillos.Īs for its diet, it mainly eats ants and colonial termites. In addition to this, they can maintain their balance on their hind legs while resting on their tails. However, despite its rigid appearance, it’s a very agile animal that can move quickly and is a great digger. It will usually make trips of more than three kilometers to search for food. The giant armadillo is nocturnal, solitary and has subterranean habits. Giant armadillos reach sexual maturity between 9 and 12 months of age. They only give birth to one or two babies, and they give them their breast milk for the first few months before they gradually adapt to an adult diet. Their gestation period is during the summer and lasts for about four months. The giant armadillo’s reproduction and behavior Regardless of the habitat they live in, all armadillos live a large part of their lives underground in burrows that they build. Experts have even found them in places 1,600 feet above sea level. Because of this, the giant armadillo is able to adapt to a wide variety of ecosystems. Its favorite habitats are tropical forests, floodplains, and savannahs. Mainly, they live near the basin of the Amazon River. It extends from Colombia to northern Argentina, passing through Venezuela and the Guianas. The giant armadillo lives throughout the South American continent. In fact, it cannot distinguish colors, but this doesn’t matter a great deal because it’s nocturnal.ĭistribution and habitat of the giant armadillo It has a great sense of smell, but its other senses are not very strong. Its tongue secretes a viscous substance that allows it to capture insects, its main source of food. Additionally, it has very large strong claws that can measure up to 8 inches long, especially on its front legs. It’s arranged in transverse rows, which also cover its tail and legs. This shell is formed by small, gray plates with yellowish tones towards the lower edges. This animal also has about 100 teeth that all look the same.Īlthough its belly is naked, the rest of its body is covered by a small, flexible shell. It has a cone-shaped, flesh-colored hairless face. Its ears are very spread apart, with plates of armor between them. It has a small, thick head, with polygonal plates all over its back. Also, it can measure between 30 and 40 inches from its snout to the tip of its tail. Giant armadillo full#It can weigh between 42 and 72 pounds at full size. Its name refers to its strong shell, which covers a large part of its body. The Priodontes Maximus is the only member of a monotypic genus endemic to South America and is currently the largest armadillo in the world. Its scientific name is Priodontes Maximus. The giant armadillo is a mammal from the Cingulata order and belongs to the Dasypodidae family.
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