Three-banded armadillo

[Doug Kerr]

During our recent trip to San Diego, Carla and I visited the San Diego Wild Animal Park, an extraordinary facility located about 30 miles north of San Diego, near Escondido. It is operated by the San Diego Zoo.

One of my favorite critters is their Southern Three-banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus), which is quite different from the Nine-banded Armadillo that is common here in North Texas.

We encountered Armando, 11 years old, from Paraguay, out on a stroll with his keeper (yes, they still call them that):

Douglas A. Kerr: Armando F198610​

Please excuse the dreadful shot. I had neglected to update my camera settings from the previous shot, and as a result ended up with an unsatisfactorily low shutter speed. Still, I include it so you can see the little guy in his "travel" configuration.

The Southern Three-banded Armadillo is one of only two armadillo species (the other being extraordinarily rare - only one known to be in a zoo anywhere) that can form into an enclosed sphere as protection against danger.

Here we see Armando approaching that configuration:

Douglas A. Kerr: Armando F19863​

Here he has completely closed up (with a little encouragement from his companion):

Douglas A. Kerr: Armando F19864​

What a fabulous design!

We note from pictures elsewhere that some of these guys dress right and some dress left.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

Fascinating images! Do you have any idea how predators respond to this armored ball? Would a mountain lion, if the paths crossed, bother to try to eat still?

Seems that having stink glands or poisonous spikes would really help too! but they don't, so this adaption is obviously sufficient, but not for the rare 9 banded cousin!

Asher

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Asher,

Fascinating images! Do you have any idea how predators respond to this armored ball?

We understand that they ignore it!

This is from the site ARKive:

Although when threatened this species is capable of running remarkably quickly to escape, more commonly it curls into a ball, which even strong-jawed predators such as dogs are unable to break open. As an additional defence, while curled up, the southern three-banded armadillo will leave a small gap between the edges of the body shells open. When the predator inserts a claw or snout into this gap in an attempt to reach the soft body parts, the armadillo quickly closes it, causing pain and possibly injury to the predator.​

But their reliance on curling up makes them rather susceptible to hunting by humans, which has been a problem for the species. They are rated just on the cusp of "endangered".

This is a nice shot of a "dresses left" guy, just uncurling:

http://www.arkive.org/southern-three-banded-armadillo/tolypeutes-matacus

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Eric Diller]

I love it when I learn something new! Cool story, Nice shots!

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Eric,

I love it when I learn something new! Cool story, Nice shots!

Thank you so much.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Don Cohen]

Agreed - thanks for these, Doug. I have seen (not shot) the occasional Armadillo, but didn't know they could ball up like the little 'rolly-polly' bugs!

 

[Winston Mitchell]

Great thread, Doug. Don't know how I missed it.