Six-Banded Armadillo
Six-Banded Armadillo
Scientific Name: Euphractus sexcinctus
Habitat: Six-banded armadillos live in the savannahs, grasslands, and forests of South American countries including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname, and Uruguay.
Diet: Six-banded armadillos are omnivores and eat fruits, tubers, roots, insects, small invertebrates, and carrion.
Size: 1.5 to 2 feet long
Weight: 7 to 14 pounds
Lifespan: 8 to 12 years in the wild, up to 20 years in human care
Distribution Map:
I.U.C.N. Conservation Status:
What does this mean?
Least Concern – a species determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) to be pervasive, abundant, and thriving.
Our Six-Banded Armadillo:
Turbo (Male) – Born June 23, 2021
About Six-Banded Armadillos:
The 3rd largest armadillo species in the world, Six-Banded Armadillos, can be found around the savannahs of South America where they dig for food such as roots, insects, and small invertebrates with their long, front claws. They are distinguishable by their protective shells which act as a shield from predators and other threats. This shell is known for having 6 bands (or sections) which allows this species to curl up slightly to protect their soft underbelly. If this doesn’t work, these armadillos tend to flee back to their burrows or – in a final effort – fight with their teeth and claws. When dealing with competing armadillos, however, this species is very territorial and is especially known for enthusiastically fighting off foreign armadillos.
Did You Know?!
- Unlike other species of armadillos, the six-banded is diurnal.
- Six-banded armadillos are known for curl up slightly when threatened, facing its hard keratin scales outwards for safety. They are also known to bite or use their long claws to defend themselves or their territory. However, unlike their three-banded relatives, they cannot fully curl up into a ball.
- Six-banded armadillos mostly use their long claws to burrow or find buried food.
- Six-banded armadillos have poor eyesight, but a very good sense of smell and hearing.
- As solitary creatures, six-banded armadillos will scent mark their territory.
- Besides humans, Armadillos are the only species of animals able to carry the disease leprosy.