Three-banded armadillo

The southern three-banded armadillo

South America’s little armoured mammal

The southern three-banded armadillo is a small South American mammal protected by an articulated shell covering its back, head and tail. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, particularly in the open, dry habitats of the Gran Chaco. Primarily insectivorous, it feeds mainly on ants and termites. Its most distinctive characteristic, however, is its ability to roll itself into an almost perfect ball, a remarkable defence mechanism found in very few armadillo species.

You can discover the southern three-banded armadillo among the many species in Beauval’s animal directory.

A protected but vulnerable species

The southern three-banded armadillo is classified as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN.

Paradoxically, its greatest defence can sometimes work against it. Rather than running away when threatened, it curls into a ball, making it relatively easy for hunters to pick up.

Habitat loss is another major threat as the dry savannahs of the Chaco are increasingly converted into agricultural land. Protecting these environments therefore helps safeguard not only the armadillo, but the many other species that depend on them.

Through Beauval Nature, ZooParc de Beauval supports numerous species and habitat conservation programmes in South America and around the world.