Tolypeutes matacus, Desmarest, 1804

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Chlamyphoridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 48-71 : 71

13.

Southern Three-banded Armadillo

Tolypeutes matacus

French: Tatou du Sud / German: Sudliches Kugelgtrteltier / Spanish: Mataco bola

Other common names: Azara’s Domed Armadillo, La Plata Three-banded Armadillo

Taxonomy. Loricatus matacus Desmarest, 1804 ,

type locality not given. Restricted by C. C. Sanborn in 1930 as Tucuman, Tucuman, Argentina. This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E Bolivia, SW Brazil, the Gran Chaco of Paraguay, and N & C Argentina.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 200-250 mm, tail 50-70 mm, ear 20-26 mm, hindfoot 39-55 mm; weight 1-2 kg. Carapace of the Southern Three-banded Armadillo is rigid, dome-shaped, generally sandyyellow to brown, and not completely attached to body; it has 2-4 movable transverse bands. It is capable of rolling itself into a ball when threatened. Ears are large and somewhat flattened, with roughened edges; tail is short and triangular. Forefeet have 3—4 toes. The Southern Three-banded Armadillo walks on soles of its hindfeet, and only tips of the front claws are in contact with the ground. Diploid number is 2n = 38.

Habitat. Mainly confined to Chaco and most abundant in xerophytic areas, typically thorny Chaco forest and scrub, but also in palm savanna and gallery forest in Humid Chaco, from sea level to elevations of ¢.800 m.

Food and Feeding. The Southern Three-banded Armadillo is an opportunistic insectivore, eating mainly insects but also plant material such as fruits and seeds. Its diet seems to vary seasonally. Beetle larvae are ingested throughout the year, while termites and ants are more frequently eaten during dry season and fruits during rainy season. It feeds mainly on the surface and occasionally digs shallow holes into ant and termite nests.

Breeding. The Southern Three-banded Armadillo reaches sexual maturity at twelve months of age. It exhibits a seasonal reproductive pattern, with gestation occurring in two peaks: July-September and December—February. Gestation is 114 days, and most births are single young weighing 70-100 g in September. Newborns are miniature versions of adults, with fully developed and hardened claws. Carapaceis flexible and has a leathery texture. Newborns can walk and roll into balls at birth. They open their eyes at ¢.22 days of age and are weaned after c.2-5 months.

Activity patterns. The Southern Three-banded Armadillo is nocturnal, but it is sometimes active during the day. It is notas fossorial as other armadillo species. It primarily uses small burrows, either dug by itself or by other species, or rests in straw nests and shallow depressions covered with leaflitter.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Southern Three-banded Armadillo is mainly solitary. Small groups gather only during breeding season when several males pursue single females in estrus. Defense mechanism is unique: when threatened, the Southern Three-banded Armadillo can roll up into a tight ball. Unlike in other chlamyphorids, carapace of the Southern Three-banded Armadillo is only partially attached to the body, which allows it to tuck away its legs when rolling up. Short, triangular tail and head shield lie side by side and completely cover the opening when the armadillo is curled up. The resulting ball is so compact that it cannot be opened by predators. Home ranges are 2—-46-4 ha (average 14 ha). Home ranges of individuals overlap within and between sexes. Density varies from 0-42 ind/km? in deciduous forest to 7 ind/km? in some parts ofits range.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The Southern Three-banded Armadillo is mainly threatened by hunting for food and habitat loss through conversion of suitable habitat to cultivated land. It is often captured and exported to zoos and for the pet trade, and there is high mortality of individuals during these processes. A conservation action plan for the Southern Three-banded Armadillo and the Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo is in place in Brazil.

Bibliography. Attias (2017), Attias et al. (2016), Barrientos & Cuéllar (2004), Bolkovi¢ et al. (1995), Cuéllar (2002, 2008), Jorge et al. (1977), Noss (2013), Noss et al. (2003), Pocock (1924), Sanborn (1930), Smith (2009), Wetzel (1985b).

Figures

1. Six-banded Armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus), 2. Screaming Hairy Armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus), 3. Large Hairy Armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus), 4. Pichi (Zaedyus pichuy), 5. Pink Fairy Armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus), 6. Greater Fairy Armadillo (Calyptophractus retusus), 7. Giant Armadillo (Priodontes maximus), 8. Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo (Cabassous centralis), 9. Southern Naked-tailed Armadillo (Cabassous unicinctus), 10. Greater Naked-tailed Armadillo (Cabassous tatouay), 11. Chacoan Naked-tailed Armadillo (Cabassous chacoensis), 12. Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus), 13. Southern Three-banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)

Distribution. E Bolivia, SW Brazil, the Gran Chaco of Paraguay, and N & C Argentina.