Hairy long-nosed armadillo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hairy long-nosed armadillo |
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| Conservation status | |
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Dasypus
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| Species: |
pilosus
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| Hairy long-nosed armadillo range | |
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The hairy long-nosed armadillo or woolly armadillo (Dasypus pilosus) is a unique type of armadillo. It belongs to the family Dasypodidae. This animal is special because it is found only in Peru.
Its natural homes are warm, wet forests in low areas. It also lives in wet mountain forests. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) once thought it was a "vulnerable" animal. This means it was at risk of disappearing. However, they changed this to "data deficient". This means we don't know enough about this armadillo. We also don't know what dangers it faces.
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About the Hairy Long-Nosed Armadillo
The hairy long-nosed armadillo is not very well known. Like other armadillos in the Dasypus group, it has a hard, armor-like shell. This shell is called a carapace. The armor is made of bony plates that are covered by tough, leathery skin. These plates form several movable bands.
Physical Features
This armadillo has a long, thin nose, which is called a rostrum. Its nose is more than half the length of its head. It also has long ears with no hair. Its tail is slender and gets thinner towards the end. The front part of its tail has rings of tough scales.
Its front feet have four strong claws. Its back feet have five claws. A special feature of this armadillo is its long, reddish-brown or grayish-brown fur. This fur grows through tiny holes in its armor. It looks similar to other armadillos but is easy to tell apart because of its unique fur. One male armadillo that was studied was about 575 millimeters (22.6 inches) long. Its tail was about 252 millimeters (9.9 inches) long.
Where It Lives and Its Home
This armadillo is found only in Peru. It lives on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains. It has been seen in several regions of Peru. These include San Martín (where it lives in the Rio Abiseo National Park), La Libertad, Huánuco, Junín, and Amazonas.
Its home is in the Yungas. The Yungas are a type of forest found along the eastern slopes of the Andes mountains. These forests can be subtropical, meaning they are warm and wet. They can also have trees that lose their leaves (deciduous) or stay green all year (evergreen). The hairy long-nosed armadillo seems to prefer thick bushes and plants in areas with limestone rocks.
See also
In Spanish: Quirquincho peludo para niños
