Southern long-nosed armadillo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern long-nosed armadillo |
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| Conservation status | |
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Dasypus
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| Species: |
hybridus
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| Southern long-nosed armadillo range | |
The southern long-nosed armadillo (Dasypus hybridus) is a cool animal that lives in South America. It's a type of armadillo known for its long nose. These interesting creatures are usually found in grasslands. They spend their days looking for food and digging burrows.
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Meet the Southern Long-Nosed Armadillo
The southern long-nosed armadillo is one of the smaller types of long-nosed armadillos. Its body is about 30 cm (12 in) long, not including its tail. The tail adds another 17 cm (6.7 in) to its length. Both males and females are about the same size and weigh around 2 kg (4.4 lb). This is like the weight of a small dog!
What Does It Look Like?
This armadillo has a dark grey shell, called a carapace, covering its upper body, tail, and head. This shell is made of bony scales. It has very little hair on its body. The middle part of its shell has movable bands. Most armadillos have seven of these bands. Some might have six or eight.
The scales on its shoulders and hips are shaped like hexagons. They are about 5 mm (0.20 in) wide. The scales on the movable bands are rectangular. They have a V-shaped groove that divides them into three parts. The scales on its head come in different shapes.
Its tail has clear rings for about two-thirds of its length. The very end of the tail is thin. These armadillos have a narrow snout and long ears. Their ears are about a quarter to a third as long as their head. They have four toes on their front feet and five on their back feet. All their toes have strong, curved claws, which are great for digging! The underside of the armadillo has thin, dark-brown hair. Its skin is wrinkled on its belly but smoother on the inside of its legs.
Where Do Southern Long-Nosed Armadillos Live?
The southern long-nosed armadillo lives in several countries in South America. You can find them in southern Brazil, especially in the states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina. They also live in southern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, and almost all of Uruguay.
Their Home: Grasslands
These armadillos prefer to live in grasslands. They can be found in areas up to 2,300 m (7,500 ft) high. They like places that are not too disturbed by people. They usually stay away from farm fields. However, you might spot them on cattle ranches. There are no different types or subspecies of the southern long-nosed armadillo.
Behaviour and Life Cycle
Southern long-nosed armadillos are active during the day. They are busy all year round. Most of the time, they live alone. They only come together during the breeding season.
What Do They Eat?
A big part of their diet, about 60%, is made up of ants and termites. They love to munch on these insects! They also eat other small bugs. Sometimes, they might eat a small mouse. They also eat some plants and food scraps they find.
Their Homes: Burrows
These armadillos spend their nights sleeping in burrows. A burrow is like an underground tunnel. Their burrows usually have one passage. On average, these tunnels are about 120 cm (47 in) long and 43 cm (17 in) deep. But each burrow can be very different in size.
They usually build their burrows on flat ground or gentle slopes. The entrance to their burrow is often hidden under bushes or rocks. They also make sure the entrance faces away from strong winds. Sometimes, they line the entrance with dried plants. They also use dried plants deeper inside the burrow to make a cozy nest.
Reproduction and Young
The breeding season for southern long-nosed armadillos starts in March. The baby armadillos are born later, from October to early December. A mother armadillo can have between six and ten babies in one litter.
When they are born, the babies are quite developed. Their eyes are already open! The bony plates of their shell are also partly formed. Newborn armadillos weigh about 48 g (1.7 oz). They drink their mother's milk for about two months.
See also
In Spanish: Armadillo de nariz larga del sur para niños
