Dasypus septemcinctus
seven-banded armadillo

The distribution of seven-banded armadillos Dasypus septemcinctus is limited to the South American Continent. Their geographical range in the neotropical region extends from the lower Amazonian Basin of Brazil to the Gran Chaco of Bolivia, Paraguay and northern provinces of Argentina: Salta, Formosa, and Chaco. (Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Wilson and Reeder, 2005)

Seven-banded armidillos inhabit grasslands, with the exception of southeastern Brazil, where they can be found in the gallery forests. (Redford and Eisenberg, 1989)

The most distinct physical characteristic of armadillos, Dasypodidae, is the carapace that resembles gray or brown armor. The carapace is made of ossified dermal plates that resemble a thick hardened skin. The majority of an armadillo's body is covered with the carapace, with the exception of the abdomen region. Seven-banded armadillos have thick-skinned abdomens with hair yellow and/or white in appearance. The carapace itself is divided into three sections: a scapular shield, a pelvic shield, and a series of bands around the midsection. Seven-banded armadillos have 6 to 8 bands located in the midsection of the carapace. Nine-banded armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus, a close relative to the seven-banded armadillo, have 7 to 11 bands. (Fox, 1999; Hamlett, 1939; Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Walker, 1975)

Nine-banded armadillos, are similar in appearance to seven-banded armadillos, though nine-banded armadillos are larger in body size and typically have two more bands in the midsection of the carapace. Seven-banded armadillos are the smallest of g. Dasypus with an average mass of 1.63 kg. Head and body length averages 269 mm while the tail measures an additional 147 mm. Seven-banded armadillos have 4 digits on their forefeet and 5 digits on their hind feet. The ears are about half the size of their head, and they have a long flattened snout used to forage for insects. (Fox, 1999; Hamlett, 1939; Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Walker, 1975)

Little information is available regarding mating systems of seven-banded armadillos. However, their close relatives, nine-banded armadillos, exhibit a polygynous mating system where the male mates with more than one female. The male entices the female for courtship by marking an area with urine. The female then responds by lying on her back to initiate copulation. The male and female may briefly share a den after copulation. (Davis and Schimidly, 1997; Loughry, et al., 1998a; Voelker, 1986)

Little information for the breeding season of seven-banded armadillos is available, though it is likely similar to that of close relatives nine-banded armadillos. Nine-banded armadillos begin breeding in July and in rare occurrences extend the breeding season until December. Female seven-banded armadillos reach sexual maturity around 274 days of age. The gestation period for seven-banded armadillos is reported to be 132 days and varies little to the gestation period of 135 days for nine-banded armadillos. While gestation periods for seven-banded and nine-banded armadillos may last a little over 130 days, the pregnancy may last for an additional 120 days due to females' ability to delay implantation. Delayed implantation occurs in all members of g. Dasypus and results from the blastocyst remaining unattached in the uterus while allowing oxygen and nutrition to be released from uterine secretions. Delayed implantation usually occurs for three months after fertilization and may result from environmental stress. Davis and Schmimidly (1997) state that delayed implantation may help the young of g. Dasypus avoid stressful conditions and increase their chances of survival. When implantation occurs in seven-banded armadillos, the blastocyst divides to form 6 to 8 distinct embryonic growth centers, which attach to the uterus by a shared placenta. This process is called polyembryony and results in a litter of 6 to 8 identical offspring. Seven-banded armadillos frequently have litter sizes of 6-8 young, even though all members of g. Dasypus have four teats. Litter sizes are smaller for nine-banded armadillos as they consistently have a litter of four identical quadruplets to complement the number of teats. After implantation occurs for nine-banded armadillos, a litter is born fully formed with eyes opening in approximately 4 months. The young can begin to walk within hours of birth and forage with their mother within a few weeks. They are reported to wean within 2 months but may remain with their mother for a few more months. The young are then capable of breeding in the early summer of the following year. ("AnAge Entry for Dasypus septemcinctus", 2009; Davis and Schimidly, 1997; Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Smith and Doughty, 1984; Walker, 1975)

Little information is available regarding parental investment of seven-banded armadillos.

The maximum lifespan reported for one specimen of seven-banded armadillos in captivity was observed to be 16.8 years. Other information is limited in availability. ("AnAge Entry for Dasypus septemcinctus", 2009)

Seven-banded armadillos are an asocial diurnal species that commonly take advantage of burrows made from other species and expand these burrows by digging horizontally anywhere from four to twelve feet. They usually have multiple burrows and join these to a central den. When seven-banded armadillos are not in their burrows, they are foraging in grasslands and gallery forests with their snout close to the ground. While foraging, they use their sense of smell to prey on insects and other small animals. When pursued they retreat to a burrow and wedge themselves against it making it difficult for predators to remove them from their burrow. (Carter and Encarnaçao, 1983; Hamlett, 1939; Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Walker, 1975)

There is little available information on home range for seven-banded armadillos.

Little information is available regarding communication and perception of seven-banded armadillos, but their close relative nine-banded armadillos have poor eyesight and therefore rely on their keen sense of smell. This sense of smell allows them to efficiently forage under leaf and grass litter. Olfactory senses are also used for mate selection and sibling recognition. (Fox, 1999; Loughry, et al., 1998b; Smith and Doughty, 1984)

Seven-banded armadillos are generally considered insectivores, although they could also be considered slightly omnivorous as they occasionally eat plants and other types of animal foods. Their diet mainly consists of insects such as ants, beetles, wasps, caterpillars, roaches, termites, and larvae. They may also eat other organisms such as small reptiles, amphibians, and even bird carcasses. (Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Smith and Doughty, 1984; Walker, 1975)

Little information is available regarding predation of seven-banded armadillos. When pursued, seven-banded armadillos usually run and wedge themselves in a burrow ensuring their abdomen region is protected from predation. Seven-banded armadillos are not hunted by humans as heavily as nine-banded armadillos because of their small size. (Anacleto, et al., 2006; Smith and Doughty, 1984; Walker, 1975)

Seven-banded armadillos are scavengers, consuming a wide variety of invertebrates as well as carrion and occasionally plants. Primarily insectivorous, seven-banded armadillos control insect populations. (Walker, 1975)

Seven-banded armadillos consume vast amounts of termites and other insects considered as pests to humans. They are also used as subjects for leprosy medical research. (Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Walker, 1975; Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Walker, 1975; Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Smith and Doughty, 1984; Walker, 1975)

Seven-banded armadillos may burrow underneath manmade structures causing supporting soils to become instable. (Redford and Eisenberg, 1989; Smith and Doughty, 1984; Walker, 1975)

Seven-banded armadillos are listed on the IUCN Red List as least concern