THREE-BANDED ARMADILLO
Scientific Name: Tolypeutes tricinctus
Tolypeutes tricinctus is the
smallest, the least known and the only armadillo species endemic to Brazil,
where it lives in the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes. It is also the armadillo
species facing the most threat and the most sensitive to changes in the
environment. In average, the three-banded armadillo measures approximately 20
inches and weighs about 2.2 pounds. It has survived throughout its 140 million
years of evolution thanks to its ability to make itself into a ball when
threatened. It does that by bending its shell, which is formed by three
flexible bands. That capability protects it from predators, such as the jaguar,
but does nothing to protect it from humans. That is why hunting is the main
threat to the survival of the species, followed by habit change and
destruction.