Six-banded armadillo

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Six-banded armadillo
Six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus).JPG
In the Pantanal, Brazil
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cingulata
Family: Chlamyphoridae
Subfamily: Euphractinae
Genus: Euphractus
Wagler, 1830
Species:
E. sexcinctus
Binomial name
Euphractus sexcinctus
Six-banded Armadillo area.png
Range of the six-banded armadillo
Synonyms [2] [3] [4]
List
  • Dasypus encoubertDesmarest, 1822
  • Dasypus flavipesG. Fischer, 1814
  • Dasypus sexcinctusLinnaeus, 1758
  • Loricatus flavimanusDesmarest, 1804
  • Scleropleura brunetiMilne-Edwards, 1872
  • Tatus sexcinctusSchinz, 1824
  • Euphractus hexcinctus

The six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus), also known as the yellow armadillo, is an armadillo found in South America. The sole extant member of its genus, it was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The six-banded armadillo is typically between 40 and 50 centimeters (16 and 20 in) in head-and-body length, and weighs 3.2 to 6.5 kilograms (7.1 to 14.3 lb). The carapace (hard shell on the back) is pale yellow to reddish brown, marked by scales of equal length, and scantily covered by buff to white bristle-like hairs. The forefeet have five distinct toes, each with moderately developed claws.

Contents

Six-banded armadillos are efficient diggers and form burrows to live in and search for prey. The armadillo is alert and primarily solitary. An omnivore, it feeds on insects, ants, carrion, and plant material. Due to their poor eyesight, armadillos rely on their sense of smell to detect prey and predators. Births take place throughout the year; gestation is 60 to 64 days long, after which a litter of one to three is born. Weaning occurs at one month, and juveniles mature by nine months. The six-banded armadillo inhabits savannas, primary and secondary forests, cerrado s, shrublands, and deciduous forests. Fairly common, its range spans from Brazil and southern Suriname in the northeast through Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay into northern Argentina in the southeast. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classifies it as least concern, and there are no major threats to its survival.

Taxonomy and etymology

Drawing of the six-banded armadillo SixBandArmadilloLyd.jpg
Drawing of the six-banded armadillo

The six-banded armadillo is the sole member of the genus Euphractus and is placed in the family Chlamyphoridae. [3] It was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus as Dasypus sexcinctus in 1758. [5] The genera Chaetophractus (hairy armadillos) and Zaedyus (pichi) have at times been included in Euphractus, though karyotypical, [6] immunological [7] and morphological [8] analyses oppose this. Fossil Euphractus excavated in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais (Brazil) and Tarija (Bolivia) date back to the Pleistocene. [2]

The following five subspecies are recognized: [2] [4]

Six-banded armadillo

A 2006 morphological study of the phylogeny of armadillos showed that Chaetophractus, Chlamyphorus , Euphractus and Zaedyus form a monophyletic clade. The cladogram below (based only on the extant species) is based on this study. [9]

 
 

Chlamyphorus

 
 
 

Zaedyus

 
 
 

Euphractus

 
 

Chaetophractus

 
 
 
 

However, a mitochondrial DNA investigation has concluded that Chlamyphorinae (fairy armadillos) is the sister group of Tolypeutinae (giant, three-banded and naked-tailed armadillos), with Euphractinae (hairy, six-banded and pichi armadillos) having diverged earlier. [10]

The six-banded armadillo differs from others in the subfamily Euphractinae, which also contains the pichi and hairy armadillos, in having a narrow head and six to seven movable bands on the carapace (the hard shell on the back). Other names for this armadillo are tatu peludo and tatu peba (in Portuguese), and 'yellow armadillo'. [2] [11]

Description

Six-banded armadillo painted by Frans Post, 1637-1644 NL-HlmNHA 53004652 02 Zesbandgordeldier.tif
Six-banded armadillo painted by Frans Post, 1637-1644
Skull of a six-banded armadillo Euphractus sexcinctus 05 MWNH 910.JPG
Skull of a six-banded armadillo

The six-banded armadillo is the largest in Euphractinae, which also contains the pichi and hairy armadillos; in fact, it is the third largest armadillo after the giant armadillo and the greater long-nosed armadillo. [2] This armadillo is typically between 40 and 50 centimeters (16 and 20 in) in head-and-body length, and weighs 3.2 to 6.5 kilograms (7.1 to 14.3 lb). The carapace is pale yellow to reddish brown (though not a dark shade of brown or black), marked by scales of equal length, and scantily covered by buff to white bristle-like hairs – unlike the hairy armadillos, that are covered by dense hairs. The shell narrows to 70 to 80 percent of its original width towards the top of the head, which is covered by plates arranged in a definite pattern. The forefeet have five distinct toes, each with moderately developed claws, of which the third is the longest. [2] [11] [12]

Like the other euphractines and the pink fairy armadillo, the six-banded armadillo has a tympanic bulla; the ears are 32 to 47 millimeters (1.3 to 1.9 in) long. There are 9 pairs of teeth on the upper jaw and 10 pairs on the lower jaw; the teeth are large and strong and are assisted by strong muscles for chewing. A row of scutes, each 13.5–18.4 millimeters (0.53–0.72 in) wide, extends along the back of the neck. The tail, 12–24 centimeters (4.7–9.4 in) long, is covered by two to four bands of plates on the underside. Some of these plates have holes for scent gland secretions, a feature seen in no other armadillo except a few big hairy armadillos. [2] [11]

Ecology and behavior

Close view of a six-banded armadillo Euphractus sexcinctus2.jpg
Close view of a six-banded armadillo

Different studies have recorded different activity patterns for the six-banded armadillo – some consider it to be diurnal (active mainly during the day), [2] while others show it is nocturnal (active mainly at night). [13] It is an alert animal; unlike other armadillos, it flees on sensing danger and bites if handled. [2] Primarily solitary, six-banded armadillos will congregate only to feed on carrions. [11] A 1983 study in eastern Brazil calculated the mean home range size as 93.3 hectares (0.360 sq mi). [14] An efficient digger, this armadillo can dig U-shaped burrows with a single opening, typically in dry areas; [11] the burrows may or may not be permanent shelters. [15] [16] These burrows can go deep into the ground and help in foraging. [11] A study of burrows dug by the giant, six-banded, southern naked-tailed and greater naked-tailed armadillos showed that all burrows were similar in the slopes of the burrow and the surrounding soil, and the direction of the entrance; the location preferred for them and time spent in them, however, differed. Burrows could be easily differentiated by their dimensions; burrows of six-banded armadillos had a mean height of 19 centimeters (7.5 in) and were 21 centimeters (8.3 in) wide at the opening, and narrowed down to 10 centimeters (3.9 in) with a height of 16 centimeters (6.3 in) to 21 centimeters (8.3 in) into the burrow. [14] Generally, burrows become wide enough to allow the armadillo to turn around as the depth increases. Unlike the moles, that throw the soil to a side while digging, the six-banded armadillo digs with its forefeet and throws the soil behind with its hindfeet. Armadillos defecate outside their burrows. [11]

Diet

The six-banded armadillo is an omnivore that feeds on carrion, small invertebrates, insects, ants, fruits (typically from bromeliads), palm nuts and tubers. [2] A 2004 study classified it as a "carnivore-omnivore". [17] In a study in a Brazilian ranch, plant material was found to predominate in the diet. [18] Captive individuals have been observed preying upon large rats. [2] Due to their poor eyesight, armadillos rely on their sense of smell to detect prey and predators. To kill the prey, the armadillo stands on it, grabs it using its teeth and tears it into pieces. [2] Six-banded armadillos can store subcutaneous fat to support themselves at times when food is scarce; this fat can increase the weight to 8 to 11 kilograms (18 to 24 lb). [19] [20]

Reproduction

Breeding behaviour has been observed in captivity. Births take place throughout the year. After a gestational period of 60 to 64 days, a litter of one to three is born. Each newborn weighs 95 to 110 grams (3.4 to 3.9 oz), and has a hairless and soft carapace; it can give out soft clicks. The pregnant female builds a nest before giving birth; if disturbed, the mother can react aggressively and shift her offspring. The eyes, closed at birth, open at 22 to 25 days. Weaning occurs at one month and the juveniles mature by nine months. One of the armadillos lived for nearly 18 years. [21]

Habitat and distribution

The six-banded armadillo inhabits savannas, primary and secondary forests, cerrado s, shrublands and deciduous forests. It can adapt to a variety of habitats; it can even occur on agricultural lands and has been recorded at 1,600 meters (5,200 ft) above the sea level. A study in southeastern Brazil estimated the population density at 0.14 individuals per hectare. The same study showed that the six-banded armadillo often displaces and is displaced by the sympatric southern naked-tail armadillo; this was considered to be helpful in their coexistence. [22] The six-banded armadillo has a wide distribution in South America, from Brazil and southern Suriname in the northeast through Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay into northern Argentina in the southeast. Its presence in Peru is doubted. [1]

Threats and conservation

The IUCN classifies the six-banded armadillo as least concern, due to its wide distribution, good degree of tolerance and presumably large populations. Moreover, it occurs in several protected areas. Though there are no major threats to its survival, six-banded armadillo populations north of the Amazon River might be declining due to few patches of savannas, human settlement and industrial expansion. Moreover, these armadillos are reportedly hunted for medicinal purposes, [23] though their meat is believed to have an unpalatable taste; in some areas in its range, people detest its meat due to the belief that the animal feeds on "rotting human corpses". [15] A 2011 study compared the six- and nine-banded armadillos in Paraíba (Brazil); nine-banded armadillo meat tasted better according to the majority of the locals. Consumption of six-banded armadillo meat was not considered safe by the locals for people with certain health problems, such as injuries and hepatitis, a taboo that had stemmed probably from concerns over the armadillo's diet. [24] Six-banded armadillos often raid cropfields to feed on tender plants; farmers are known to use traps aided by corn baits for these animals to curb the menace. [25]

Related Research Articles

Armadillo New World placental mammals in the order Cingulata

Armadillos are New World placental mammals in the order Cingulata. The Chlamyphoridae and Dasypodidae are the only surviving families in the order, which is part of the superorder Xenarthra, along with the anteaters and sloths. Nine extinct genera and 21 extant species of armadillo have been described, some of which are distinguished by the number of bands on their armor. All species are native to the Americas, where they inhabit a variety of different environments.

Xenarthra Superorder of mammals including anteaters, sloths, and armadillos

Xenarthra is a major clade of placental mammals native to the Americas. There are 31 living species: the anteaters, tree sloths, and armadillos. Extinct xenarthrans include the glyptodonts, pampatheres and ground sloths. Xenarthrans originated in South America during the late Paleocene about 60million years ago. They evolved and diversified extensively in South America during the continent's long period of isolation in the early to mid Cenozoic Era. They spread to the Antilles by the early Miocene and, starting about 3 Mya, spread to Central and North America as part of the Great American Interchange. Nearly all of the formerly abundant megafaunal xenarthrans became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene.

Giant armadillo Species of mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

The giant armadillo, colloquially tatu-canastra, tatou, ocarro or tatú carreta, is the largest living species of armadillo. It lives in South America, ranging throughout as far south as northern Argentina. This species is considered vulnerable to extinction.

Cingulata Order of armored mammals from the Americas

Cingulata, part of the superorder Xenarthra, is an order of armored New World placental mammals. Dasypodids and chlamyphorids, the armadillos, are the only surviving families in the order. Two groups of cingulates much larger than extant armadillos existed until recently: pampatheriids, which reached weights of up to 200 kg (440 lb) and chlamyphorid glyptodonts, which attained masses of 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) or more.

Nine-banded armadillo Type of mammal

The nine-banded armadillo, also known as the nine-banded long-nosed armadillo or common long-nosed armadillo, is a mammal found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos. Its ancestors originated in South America, and remained there until the formation of the Isthmus of Panama allowed them to enter North America as part of the Great American Interchange. The nine-banded armadillo is a solitary, mainly nocturnal animal, found in many kinds of habitats, from mature and secondary rainforests to grassland and dry scrub. It is an insectivore, feeding chiefly on ants, termites, and other small invertebrates. The armadillo can jump 3–4 ft (91–122 cm) straight in the air if sufficiently frightened, making it a particular danger on roads. It is the state small mammal of Texas.

Southern naked-tailed armadillo Species of mammal

The southern naked-tailed armadillo is a species of small armadillo from South America.

Greater naked-tailed armadillo Species of mammal

The greater naked-tailed armadillo is an armadillo species from South America.

Southern long-nosed armadillo Species of mammal

The southern long-nosed armadillo is a species of armadillo native to South America.

Andean hairy armadillo Species of mammal

The Andean hairy armadillo is an armadillo found mainly in Bolivia, in the region of the Puna; the departments of Oruro, La Paz, and Cochabamba. Nowark (1991) describes it as distributed in Bolivia and northern Chile. A recent publication of Pacheco (1995) also locates the species in the Puno Region of Peru. This species is also thought to be present in northern Argentina. However, this location may actually only contain a population of C. vellerosus.

Pichi Species of mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

The pichi, dwarf armadillo or pygmy armadillo is an armadillo native to Argentina. It is the only living member of the genus Zaedyus, and the only armadillo to hibernate.

Northern naked-tailed armadillo Species of mammal

The northern naked-tailed armadillo is a species of armadillo. It is one of only two species of armadillo found outside of South America, the other being the more widely distributed nine-banded armadillo.

Screaming hairy armadillo Species of armadillo

The screaming hairy armadillo is a species of armadillo also known as the small screaming armadillo, crying armadillo or the small hairy armadillo. It is a burrowing armadillo found in the central and southern parts of South America. The adjective "screaming" derives from its habit of squealing when handled.

Hairy long-nosed armadillo Species of mammal

The hairy long-nosed armadillo or woolly armadillo is a species of armadillo in the family Dasypodidae. It is endemic to Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. The International Union for Conservation of Nature used to consider it a "vulnerable species" but has changed this assessment to "data deficient" because so little is known about the animal and the threats it faces.

<i>Dasypus</i> Genus of mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

Dasypus is the only extant genus in the family Dasypodidae. Its species are known as long-nosed or naked-tailed armadillos. They are found in South, Central, and North America, as well as on the Caribbean islands of Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago. Members of Dasypus are solitary and primarily nocturnal to avoid temperature extremes and predation. They exist in numerous habitats ranging from brush to grassland areas and are mainly insectivorous.

Llanos long-nosed armadillo Species of mammal

The Llanos long-nosed armadillo or northern long-nosed armadillo is a species of armadillo in the family Dasypodidae. It is endemic to Colombia and Venezuela, where its habitat is the intermittently flooded grassland of the Llanos. The species is closely related to the nine-banded armadillo and the great long-nosed armadillo. It has very little hair and can weigh up to 22 pounds (9.5 kg), and can grow to about 2.1 feet (60 cm) long. It lives in dense cover near limestone formations. Like most other armadillos, it eats ants.

Euphractinae Subfamily of mammals

Euphractinae is an armadillo subfamily in the family Chlamyphoridae.

Chlamyphoridae Family of armadillos

Chlamyphoridae is a family of cingulate mammals. While glyptodonts have traditionally been considered stem-group cingulates outside the group that contains modern armadillos, there had been speculation that the extant family Dasypodidae could be paraphyletic based on morphological evidence. In 2016, an analysis of Doedicurus mtDNA found it was, in fact, nested within the modern armadillos as the sister group of a clade consisting of Chlamyphorinae and Tolypeutinae. For this reason, all extant armadillos but Dasypus were relocated to a new family.

Proeuphractus is an extinct genus of xenarthran, related to the modern armadillos. It lived from the Early to the Late Miocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America.

References

  1. 1 2 Abba, A.M.; Lima, E.; Superina, M. (2014). "Euphractus sexcinctus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T8306A47441708. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T8306A47441708.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Redford, K.H.; Wetzel, R.M. (1985). "Euphractus sexcinctus" (PDF). Mammalian Species (252): 1–4. doi:10.2307/3503786. JSTOR   3503786. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2016.
  3. 1 2 Gardner, A.L. (2005). "Order Cingulata". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 97. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  4. 1 2 Gardner, A.L. (2007). Mammals of South America. Vol. 1. Chicago, US: University of Chicago Press. pp. 144–6. ISBN   978-0-226-28242-8.
  5. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1758), Systema Naturae, 10th ed., Vol. I, p.  51 . (in Latin)
  6. ↑ Jorge, W.; Meritt Jr, D.A.; Benirschke, K. (1978). "Chromosome studies in Edentata". Cytobios. 18 (71–2): 157–72. PMID   679723.
  7. ↑ Roíg, V.G. (1964). "Inmunotest y relaciones sistematicas en dasipodidos argentinos". Cienc. Invest. (in Spanish). 20: 270–5.
  8. ↑ Wetzel, R.M. (1985). "The taxonomy and distribution of armadillos Dasypodidae". In Montgomery, G.G. (ed.). The Evolution and Ecology of Armadillos, Sloths, and Vermilinguas. Washington D.C., US: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 23–48. ISBN   978-0-87474-649-5.
  9. ↑ Gaudin, T.J.; Wible, J.R. (2006). "The phylogeny of living and extinct armadillos (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Cingulata): a craniodental analysis". In Carrano, M.T. (ed.). Amniote Paleobiology: Perspectives on the Evolution of Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles. Chicago, US: University of Chicago Press. pp. 153–98. ISBN   978-0-226-09478-6.
  10. ↑ Gibb, G. C.; Condamine, F. L.; Kuch, M.; Enk, J.; Moraes-Barros, N.; Superina, M.; Poinar, H. N.; Delsuc, F. (9 November 2015). "Shotgun Mitogenomics Provides a Reference Phylogenetic Framework and Timescale for Living Xenarthrans". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 33 (3): 621–642. doi:10.1093/molbev/msv250. ISSN   1537-1719. PMC   4760074 . PMID   26556496.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nowak, R.M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. 1 (6th ed.). Baltimore, US: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 160. ISBN   978-0-8018-5789-8.
  12. ↑ Husson, A.M. (1978). The Mammals of Suriname. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill. pp. 254–7. ISBN   978-90-04-05819-4.
  13. ↑ Bonato, V.; Martins, E.G.; Machado, G.; da-Silva, C.Q.; dos Reis, S.F. (2008). "Ecology of the armadillos Cabassous unicinctus and Euphractus sexcinctus (Cingulata: Dasypodidae) in a Brazilian Cerrado". Journal of Mammalogy. 89 (1): 168–74. doi: 10.1644/06-MAMM-A-187.1 .
  14. 1 2 Carter, T.S.; Encarnacao, C.D. (1983). "Characteristics and use of burrows by four species of armadillos in Brazil". Journal of Mammalogy. 64 (1): 103–8. doi:10.2307/1380755. ISSN   1545-1542. JSTOR   1380755.
  15. 1 2 Loughry, W.J.; McDonough, C.M. (2013). The Nine-banded Armadillo: A Natural History. Oklahoma, US: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 29–30. ISBN   978-0-8061-8921-5.
  16. ↑ Medri, I.M. (2008). Ecologia e história natural do tatu-peba, Euphractus sexcinctus (Linnaeus, 1758), no Pantanal da Nhecolândia, Mato Grosso do Sul [Ecology and natural history of the six-banded armadillo Euphractus sexcinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Pantanal Nhecolândia, Mato Grosso do Sul](PDF) (PhD thesis) (in Portuguese). University of Brasilia.
  17. ↑ Dalponte, J.C.; Tavares-Filho, J.A. (2004). "Diet of the yellow armadillo, Euphractus sexcinctus, in South-Central Brazil". Edentata. 6 (1): 37–41. doi:10.1896/1413-4411.6.1.37. ISSN   1413-4411. S2CID   86613870.
  18. ↑ Schaller, G.B. (1983). "Mammals and their biomass on a Brazilian ranch". Arquivos de Zoologia. 31 (1): 1–36. doi: 10.11606/issn.2176-7793.v31i1p1-36 . ISSN   0066-7870.
  19. ↑ McNab, B.K. (1980). "Energetics and the limits to a temperate distribution in armadillos". Journal of Mammalogy. 61 (4): 606–27. doi:10.2307/1380307. JSTOR   1380307.
  20. ↑ Eisenberg, J.F.; Redford, K.H. (1999). The Central Neotropics: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil. Chicago, US: University of Chicago Press. pp. 106–7. ISBN   978-0-226-19542-1.
  21. ↑ Gucwinska, H. (1971). "Development of six-banded armadillos at Wroclaw Zoo". International Zoo Yearbook. 11 (1): 88–9. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1090.1971.tb01861.x.
  22. ↑ Bonato, V.; Martins, E.G.; Machado, G.; da-Silva, C.Q.; dos Reis, S.F. (2008). "Ecology of the armadillos Cabassous unicinctus and Euphractus sexcinctus (Cingulata: Dasypodidae) in a Brazilian cerrado". Journal of Mammalogy. 89 (1): 168–74. doi: 10.1644/06-MAMM-A-187.1 . ISSN   1572-9710.
  23. ↑ Ferreira, F.S.; Fernandes-Ferreira, H.; Léo Neto, N.A.; Brito, S.V.; Alves, R.R.N. (2013). "The trade of medicinal animals in Brazil: current status and perspectives". Biodiversity and Conservation. 22 (4): 839–70. doi:10.1007/s10531-013-0475-7. S2CID   15332408.
  24. ↑ Barboza, R.R.D.; Mourão, J.S.; Souto, W.M.; Alves, R.R. (2011). "Knowledge and strategies of Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus L. 1758 and Euphractus sexcinctus L. 1758) hunters in the "Sertão Paraibano", Paraíba State, NE Brazil" (PDF). Bioremediation, Biodiversity and Bioavailability. 5 (1): 1–7.
  25. ↑ Smith, L.L.; Doughty, R.W. (2012). The Amazing Armadillo: Geography of a Folk Critter. Texas, US: University of Texas Press. ISBN   978-0-292-74945-0.
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