ENDANGERED SPECIES
Dasypus novemcinctus
FATRO “WILDLIFE” COLLECTION
Dasypus novemcinctus
FATRO “WILDLIFE” COLLECTION
The common armadillo or nine-banded armadillo is a mammal belonging to the Dasypodidae family, widespread in central-southern America. Its weight ranges between 5.5 and 7.5 kg and its length ranges between 60 and 80 cm. It has a powerful armour, divided into nine keratin scales, connected with each other by thin layers of skin, which form a hard and flexible protection, useful to protect it from predators and obstacles. If it is threatened, it coils up, acquiring an almost spherical shape. It lives in woodlands, prairies and humid areas, where it eats insects, snails, earthworms, fly larvae and other small invertebrates. It is normally a lonely animals, active at dusk and at night. During the day it hides in deep lairs in the ground, which it digs out with its long claws. Gestation lasts about 2-3 months and generally 4 puppies are born. The survival of several species, including the giant armadillo and the three-banded armadillo, is currently at risk, due to uncontrolled hunting and invasion of their habitat.
