Chaetophractus villosus (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 : 68

3.

Large Hairy Armadillo

Chaetophractus villosus

French: Grand Tatou / German: Braunborsten-Gurteltier / Spanish: Armadillo peludo

Other common names: Big Hairy Armadillo, Greater Hairy Armadillo

Taxonomy. Loricatus uvillosus Desmarest, 1804 ,

“Les Pampas,” south of Rio de la Plata, between latitudes 35° S and 36° S, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Gran Chaco of SE Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina (as far S as Santa Cruz Province), and S Chile (Aisén and Magallanes regions). It has been introduced on Tierra del Fuego I.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 260-400 mm, tail 120-150 mm, ear 26-30 mm, hindfoot 62-72 mm; weight 2-5 kg. The Large Hairy Armadillo is second in size to the Six-banded Armadillo ( Euphractus sexcinctus ) among the euphractines. Carapace is flattened and dark, with long, sparse dark hair and 6-7 movable transverse bands. Apices of marginal scutes of carapace are rounded. There are 2-3 small openings for pelvic glands in mid-dorsal scutes of pelvic shield. Ears are proportionally short. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 60, FN = 88 or 90.

Habitat. Wide range of habitats, including grassland, savanna, forest, agroecosystems, and degraded habitats, preferring open areas, from sea levelto elevations of ¢.1500 m. The Large Hairy Armadillo is the most common armadillo species in plains and intermountain valleys of Argentina. It can tolerate highly modified habitats and is frequently found in agricultural lands of the Argentinean pampas. It also seems to respond favorably to agricultural activities, showing more activity in croplands (particularly soybean crops) where it is sometimes considered a pest.

Food and Feeding. The Large Hairy Armadillo is an omnivore—carnivore, eating invertebrates (mainly beetle adults and larvae), plant material (especially fruits), small vertebrates, bird eggs, and carrion. When foraging, it generally walks slowly with its nose in contact with substrate, often moving its head from side to side. After it locates food by olfaction,it digs rapidly with its front claws to reachits prey.

Breeding. Male and female Large Hairy Armadillos become sexually mature at c.1 year of age. Mating period is not clearly known but is probably from the end of winter throughout spring. Gestation lasts 60-75 days, and litters have 1-3, usually two, young. Females can produce more than one litter per year. Birth occurs inside the burrow, in which the female usually builds a nest with plant material. Birth weight is ¢.100 g. Weaning occurs at 55-61 days of age.

Activity patterns. The Large Hairy Armadillo is crepuscular to nocturnal, but it does not seem to have a fixed daily activity cycle. Instead, daily activity depends on region and season. Burrows consist of a descending gallery leading to a relatively horizontal area. Simple burrows provide temporary protection or might be used as foraging sites; complex burrows are used for resting, sleeping, and rearing young. Single, dome-shaped burrow entrance is ¢.20 cm wide, ¢.20 cm high, and generally oriented opposite of prevailing winds.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Large Hairy Armadillo is mainly solitary, although as many as 10-20 individuals coexist in certain situations, such as an excess of food in a restricted area or during flooding season. Home range is unknown. Density analyses are scarce: 0-58 ind/km® have been reported in Bolivia, and 200 ind/km? can occur in certain areas of the Argentinean pampas.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Large Hairy Armadillo has a wide distribution and presumably large population, and it tolerates some habitat modification. Nevertheless,it is hunted extensively for sport and meat and persecuted as an agricultural pest.

Bibliography. Abba (2008), Abba, Cassini et al. (2015), Abba, Poljak et al. (2014), Abba, Udrizar & Vizcaino (2005), Abba, Zufiaurre et al. (2016), Cuéllar (2008), Poljak et al. (2007), Superina & Loughry (2012), 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. Gran Chaco of SE Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina (as far S as Santa Cruz Province), and S Chile (Aisén and Magallanes regions). It has been introduced on Tierra del Fuego I.