Dasypus hybridus
southern long-nosed armadillo

The home range of Dasypus hybridus, the southern long-nosed armadillo, extends from southern Brazil to parts of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. ("Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999; Gardner, 2005; Nixon, 2009)

Southern long-nosed armadillos are terrestrial and fossorial. They live mainly in grasslands and savannas. They make burrows in the ground by digging with their clawed feet. They prefer areas with dense vegetation and limestone outcrops, from 0 to 3000 m elevation. Burrows can be up to 7.5 meters long, are usually 0.5 to 3.5 meters deep and run parallel to the ground. They usually have a nest of leaves and grass in the burrow. Individuals may have between 1 and 20 burrows in use, occupying the main one from 1 to 29 days at a time. ("Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999; Abba, et al., 2007; "Armadillos (Family Dasypodidae)", 1990; Tolosa, 2009)

Southern long-nosed armadillos have 6 to 7 brownish armored bands along their backs and sparse, bristly hair on their undersides. Armor bands are ossified skin and each band is connected to the others by creases of skin, allowing for range of motion. ("Armadillos", 2006; "Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999; "Armadillos (Family Dasypodidae)", 1990; Nixon, 2009)

Southern long-nosed armadillos are named for their long snouts. They have short legs with four, clawed toes on the front legs and five on the hind legs. Southern long-nosed armadillos have between 6 and 8 peg-like teeth per jaw quadrant. Their tails are also armored, with rings with rings of ossified skin. The southern long-nosed armadillo weighs around four and a half pounds and is about 11 to 12.5 inches long, with a tail around half that size. ("Armadillos", 2006; "Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999; "Armadillos (Family Dasypodidae)", 1990; Nixon, 2009)

Southern long-nosed armadillos use smell to determine if an individual is receptive to mating. There is no obvious sexual dimorphism between males and females. Males have long penises. It is thought that this is because of all the armor it has to get around in order to mate. ("Armadillos", 2006)

The gestation period southern long-nosed armadillos is prolonged by delayed implantation. Females give birth once a year, becoming pregnant in June and delivering about 120 days later, usually some time in October. Dasypus hybridus has between 4 and 12 young in each litter. This is a distinctive aspect of southern long-nosed armadillos; other species do not have as many young per litter. Offspring are genetically identical because they develop from the same egg. Newborns are pinkish in color at birth but their skin quickly becomes armored and turns to the adult colors of browns or whites. ("Armadillos", 2006; "Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999; "Armadillos (Family Dasypodidae)", 1990; Nixon, 2009)

Female southern long-nosed armadillos have mammae on the chest and sometimes on the abdomen. Not much is known about the relationship between the mother and her offspring but, like other mammals, females invest significantly in gestation and lactation. Nine banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are weaned at 4 to 5 months and become mature sexually around 1 year. ("Armadillos", 2006; "Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999)

Young southern long-nosed armadillos are twice as likely to die as adults because their bony plates are not fully developed. The specific lifespan of D. hybridus is not known, but other species of armadillo have been reported to live anywhere from 9 to 40 years. ("Armadillos", 2006)

Southern long-nosed armadillos are terrestrial and fossorial, building conical burrows as long as 7.5 meters. They make circular entrances and dig burrows with their long, curved claws. They are mainly nocturnal, staying in their burrows when not active. Southern long-nosed armadillos can hold their breath for up to six minutes. This is beneficial while digging to keep their lungs free of dirt. They are mainly solitary, but are sometimes found with others. Southern long-nosed armadillos walk quickly on their front claws and back soles and heels. They burrow when threatened, either by taking shelter in an existing burrow or by quickly digging a new temporary one. They may also try to claw or bite a predator or pull their feet up and sit on the ground so that their armor protects their soft undersides. ("Armadillos", 2006; "Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999; Abba, et al., 2007; "Armadillos (Family Dasypodidae)", 1990; Nixon, 2009; Tolosa, 2009)

Home range information is not available for southern long-nosed armadillos.

Southern long-nosed armadillos have keen senses of smell and hearing. They do not see well. Southern long-nosed armadillos have glands on their eyelids, bottoms of the feet, ears, and anal area. These glands emit a yellow colored liquid that is used to identify individuals and find a mate. They also rub their glands on things to mark their home range. Southern long-nosed armadillos sniff the anal area of other armadillos to identify individuals. ("Armadillos", 2006)

Southern long-nosed armadillos are opportunistic foragers that eat mainly invertebrates. They feed on ants, beetles, crickets, termites, spiders, other invertebrates, small vertebrates, vegetation (including some fruits), and carrion. They forage noisily at night. Southern long-nosed armadillos have long tongues that they use for catching prey. They usually forage with their nose to the ground, going through leaf litter. They may also use their claws to open up a log and then use their tongues to get at what is inside. ("Armadillos", 2006; "Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999; Nixon, 2009; Tolosa, 2009)

Specific predators of southern long-nosed armadillos are not reported. In other armadillo species, predators of young include bobcats, mountain lions, large raptors, and dogs. Adult armadillos are hunted by jaguars, alligators, and bears. They are protected against some predation by their nocturnal habits, burrowing lifestyle, and armored bodies. They are also cryptically colored. ("Armadillos", 2006; Abba, et al., 2007; Nixon, 2009)

Southern long-nosed armadillos help to control insect populations. ("Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999)

The armor of Dasypus hybridus is sold in some places for use as baskets. They have also been hunted for meat and some were used by South American Indians to build roofs and tombs. Armadillos are used in medical research. They are used especially for studying leprosy because they can contract it. Other medical research that uses armadillos include research on birth defects, multiple births, organ transplants, trichinosis, and typhus. ("Armadillos", 2006; "Dasyypus hybridus", 2009; "Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999; Tolosa, 2009)

There are no known adverse effects of Dasypus hybridus on humans.

Southern long-nosed armadillos are listed as near threatened. They don't thrive in zoos because they need large amounts of space. Threats to their habitat include deforestation and agriculture. ("Armadillos", 2006; "Xenarthra; Family Dasypodidae", 1999)