Brazilian three-banded armadillo
Brazilian three-banded armadillo | |
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Museum specimen | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Cingulata |
Family: | Chlamyphoridae |
Subfamily: | Tolypeutinae |
Genus: | Tolypeutes |
Species: | T. tricinctus
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Binomial name | |
Tolypeutes tricinctus | |
Geographic range | |
Synonyms | |
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The Brazilian three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus) is an
Names
It was known as kwaráu in the extinct Huamoé language of the Serra Negra in Pernambuco State, Brazil,[2] and as ˈkʌ̨́ñíkį̀ in the extinct Kambiwá language of Barreira, Petrolândia, Pernambuco.[3]
Anatomy
Brazilian three-banded armadillos have a head-and-body length of about 22 to 27 cm (8.7 to 10.6 in) and the tail is between 6 and 8 cm (2.4 and 3.1 in) long. They weigh 1–1.6 kg (2.2–3.5 lb).
Ecology
Range and habitat
As its name suggests, the Brazilian three-banded armadillo is indigenous to Brazil, living primarily in the northeastern part of the country, just south of the equator. They are rarely seen west of 50°W longitude.[5] The Brazilian three-banded armadillo lives primarily in open
Diet
The main staples of its diet are
Behavior
Armadillos are chiefly solitary, but this species will occasionally travel in small family groups of up to three members. They are largely nocturnal, but have been known to forage during the day. All the armadillos are spectacular diggers, but unlike most of the other species, three-banded armadillos do not dig in defense or to find shelter. They prefer to rest under bushes, rather than dig burrows, and their ability to roll into a ball makes defensive digging unnecessary. When they are not foraging, they move with a sort of trot, bouncing on the tips of their front toes, while their hind feet slap flatly on the ground. They mark their territories with secretions from glands on their face, feet, and rump. When threatened, they occasionally do not seal their armor completely, but wait until they are touched. They then quickly snap shut in an effort to startle the predator.[5]
Reproduction
The mating season lasts from October to January, during which there is a brief courtship before mating. The female carries the young for a
Threats
The defense system of the Brazilian three-banded armadillo makes it safe from the majority of predators. Adult pumas and jaguars are the only South American mammals powerful enough to be a natural threat. The real danger to armadillos is the destruction of their habitats to make room for livestock. In addition to this, this species is facing a dual threat of heavy hunting pressure and habitat loss. Due to its tendency to ball up when threatened, this species is frequently collected for food, which has resulted in significant population declines across its range. Additionally, growing agriculture, mining, and charcoal collecting have devastated and damaged its habitat.[5]
2014 FIFA World Cup mascot
The Caatinga Association, a Brazilian environmental NGO, launched in January 2012 a national campaign proposing the three-banded armadillo to become mascot of the 2014 FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil. In March 2012, the Brazilian weekly, Veja, reported the three-banded armadillo would be the official mascot for the FIFA World Cup. Official announcement came in September 2012.[6]
References
- ^ Miranda, F., Moraes-Barros, N., Superina, M. & Abba, A.M. (2014) Tolypeutes tricinctus. In: IUCN 2014. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1.
- ^ Pompeu Sobrinho, Thomaz. 1958. Línguas Tapuias desconhecidas do Nordeste: Alguns vocabulários inéditos. Boletim de Antropologia (Fortaleza-Ceará) 2. 3-19.
- ^ Meader, Robert E. (1978). Indios do Nordeste: Levantamento sobre os remanescentes tribais do nordeste brasileiro (in Portuguese). Brasilia: SIL International.
- ^ Armadillo Online: Tolypeutes tricinctus. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g Wildlife Explorer: Three-Banded Armadillo. USA: International Masters Publishers, 1998.
- ^ "Fifa faz registro e confirma tatu-bola como mascote da Copa de 2014". ESPN (in Portuguese). 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
External links
- Data related to Tolypeutes tricinctus at Wikispecies
- Gardner, A. (2005). OCLC 62265494.
- World Cup Mascot. [1]