Description of the Giant Armadillo

The giant armadillo is the largest of all 20 known species in the dasypodidae, or armadillo family. It is a medium-sized member of the mammal class of animals. The giant armadillo is considered a keystone species in its native range, keeping control of the population of certain ant and termite species.

  1. Description

    • The giant armadillos grows to around 3 feet in length and weighs up to 70 lbs. It has a stout, round body with short, stumpy legs. The armadillo's back is covered in tough, bony scales that make up protective plates. The protective back plates are black to gray in color, with the head and underside being almost pure white. Its skin is wrinkled and pinkish in coloration. The animal has powerful claws on its front legs, which help it dig.

    Habitat and Range

    • The giant armadillo lives in South America, from Venezuela down through Brazil and into southern Argentina. It is an adaptable animal, living in a range of habitats from tropical forests to open plains and even swampy wetlands. It digs itself burrows in which to live and spends much of the daylight hours sleeping, coming out only after dark to feed. It also is known to be a good swimmer.

    Diet and Predators

    • The powerful claws on the giant armadillo's front legs are efficient for digging into and tearing open termite and ant mounds. It completely excavates the mounds, licking up the small insects, and often will stay in the dug out burrow for some time, resting after a meal. The animal also will eat other small creatures, like worms and spiders, as well as small snakes. Unlike some armadillo species that can roll up into an armored ball, the giant variety cannot, so it can fall prey to some predators. Its large size deters some predators, but jaguars and pumas remain major threats.

    Life Cycle

    • The giant armadillos are solitary animals, only coming together to mate. The mating season is unknown but pregnancies last around four months. A typical litter is 1 to 2 offspring, which are cared for by the female for up to six months before they are old enough to survive alone. Sexual maturity is reached after about a year and life expectancy in the wild ranges from 12 to 15 years.