Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Cingulata
Family Dasypodidae
Gender Dasypus
SpeciesDasypus novemcinctus
The name armadillo is of Tupi origin and refers to the carapace of these animals (ta=hard; you=thick). As for this structure, the armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, has a more convex carapace than other armadillos, and in this there are small plates, with nine mobile straps, centrally located on the back.
Also known as nine-banded armadillo, leaf armadillo, armadillo, deer armadillo and armadillo, this animal has a small head, pointed snout, small eyes, and large, narrow ears. The tail is long, with presence of plates, the limbs are short, and the claws are long, curved and sharp. They measure approximately 60 centimeters and weigh about five kilos. There is little hair on her body, this one is dark brown in color, and it is slightly yellow on the belly. His sense of smell is quite refined and his hearing and vision are poorly developed. Found in southern North America, as well as in South America, the
With nocturnal habits, these animals generally live alone, feeding on invertebrates, small vertebrates, eggs, fungi, fruits, roots and tubers. Their meat, which is highly appreciated, means that these animals are not seen as often as they once were – although hunting armadillos is prohibited. Just to give you an idea, the armadillo-chicken is one of the ten species of mammals most apprehended by IBAMA.
Possibly, the criminalization of armadillo hunting, combined with the fact that these animals give rise to a number that varies between four and twelve pups per litter, to the detriment of other armadillo species, which give birth to only one. Cub; are factors related to why this species is not threatened with extinction (according to the Federal Government International for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, IUCN, the armadillo poses a minimum risk of extinction).
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These animals breed once a year and each gestation lasts approximately 120 days. The puppies are univitelline, that is: identical, and all presenting the same sex – a characteristic phenomenon of polyembryony.
Reaching sexual maturity in the first year of life, the chicks remain in nests built inside their burrows, for up to two months of age. Such holes, several meters long, are dug by the adult animals themselves, and serve as shelter and refuge from predators. In the latter case, running and, in extreme situations, closing in on their shell, are other strategies they adopt.
The armadillo-chicken and the other representatives of the genus Dasypus are still the only animals, besides our species, whose organism is capable of developing the Mycobacterium leprae, bacteria causing leprosy. Thus, they are much needed in studies of the disease and in the development of vaccines against it; and also in research on coccidioidomycosis, caused by the fungus Coccidioides immitis: respiratory disease that can be fatal and is transmitted by these animals.
By Mariana Araguaia
Graduated in Biology