Priodontes maximus (Kerr, 1792)

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 : 69

7.

Giant Armadillo

Priodontes maximus

French: Tatou géant / German: Riesengurteltier / Spanish: Armadillo gigante

Taxonomy. Dasypus maximus Kerr, 1792 ,

“Cayenne,” French Guiana.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. N & C South America E of the Andes, in Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and N Argentina.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 750-1000 mm, tail 400-500 mm, ear bH8— 60 mm, hindfoot 180-197 mm; weight 20-60 kg (up to 80 kg in captivity). The

Giant Armadillo is the largest of all extant armadillo species, and males larger than females. Carapace is dark brown to black, with broad light-colored band around its lower part and 11-13 movable transverse bands. Claws are thick and powerful on forefeet, with greatly enlarged, sickle-shaped claw on third forefinger (up to 203 mm). The Giant Armadillo walks on soles of its hindfeet, but only tips of front claws are in contact with the ground. Females have two nipples. The Giant Armadillo has more teeth than any other species of armadillo and most other mammals. Average dental formula is 15/17 or 18/19, but it is highly variable and can reach up to 100 teeth or even more. Chromosomal complementis 2n = 50, FN = 76.

Habitat. Undisturbed primary rainforest, dry forests, humid to dry lowland forests, and savannas up to elevations of ¢.500 m.

Food and Feeding. The Giant Armadillo is mainly insectivorous, eating primarily ants and termites and occasionally other invertebrates (spiders, beetles, cockroaches, millipedes, and worms), small snakes, carrion, and rarely figs and other fruit. It obtains its food mainly by digging with its well-developed claws while standing on its large hindfeet and using its tail as a fifth limb for support.

Breeding. Female Giant Armadillos give birth to one, exceptionally two, young per year. Offspring remain inside the burrow during most of the lactation period of 4-6 months. Females sometimes leave offspring inside the burrow and close the entrance to impede predator attacks.

Activity patterns. The Giant Armadillo is highly fossorial and nocturnal, but daytime activity has been recorded inside burrows. Females with offspring may initiate their activity period around or shortly after sunset, earlier than other adults. Burrow entrances are semicircular, 41-47 cm wide, and 30-37 cm high. Burrows are often constructed in sloped terrain near water bodies or under active termite mounds. The Giant Armadillo can use the same burrow for several days (usually 1-2 but up to 17 days) and reuse old burrows. At least 26 other vertebrate species will use Giant Armadillo burrows.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Giant Armadillo is presumably solitary, except during breeding and while females rear their offspring. It is naturally rare where it occurs. It has a very patchy distribution. Home ranges vary regionally between 452 ha and 1500 ha. Home ranges of males and females often overlap. Densities range from 3-4 ind/100 km? in Brazil to 5-8 ind/100 km? in Colombia and 5-8-6-3 ind/100 km? in Bolivia.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Giant Armadillo population has suffered a decline of at least 30% over the past 20 years and historically probably occurred to Cordoba and Santa Fe provinces (to ¢.31° S) in Argentina. It is hunted for meat throughout its distribution and is heavily affected by habitat loss and fragmentation through deforestation, land use change, and agriculture. Collection for museum specimens and illegal trafficking, either to keep the Giant Armadillo as a pet or to sell it as a “living fossil” on the black market, are also conservation threats. The Giant Armadillo has become locally extirpated in some areas, especially in its southern distribution. Therefore, it is listed in a threatened category in eight of the eleven countries in its distribution and may be extinct in Uruguay.

Bibliography. Anacleto & Marinho-Filho (2001), Anacleto, Miranda et al. (2014), Aya-Cuero, Rodriguez-Bolanos & Superina (2017), Aya-Cuero, Superina & Rodriguez-Bolanos (2015), Carter (1983), Carter & Encarnacgao (1983), Carter et al. (2016), Ceresoli & Fernandez-Duque (2012), Desbiez & Kluyber (2013), Krieg (1929), Leite et al. (2004), Marinho-Filho et al. (2002), Noss et al. (2004), Pocock (1924), Redford (1985a), Silveira et al. (2009), Wallace & Painter (2013), Wetzel (1985b), Wetzel et al. (2008).

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. N & C South America E of the Andes, in Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and N Argentina.