Description[ edit ] The giant armadillo is the largest living species of armadillo, with 11 to 13 hinged bands protecting the body and a further three or four on the neck. These armadillos have around 80 to teeth, which is more than any other terrestrial mammal. The teeth are all similar in appearance, being reduced premolars and molars, grow constantly throughout life, and lack enamel.
The animal is almost entirely hairless, with just a few beige colored hairs protruding between the scutes. In the south, they reach the northernmost provinces of Argentina , including Salta , Formosa , Chaco , and Santiago del Estero. There are no recognised geographic subspecies. The diet is mainly composed of termites, although ants , worms , spiders and other invertebrates are also eaten.
In the only long term study on the species, that started in in the Peruvian Amazon, dozens of other species of mammals, reptiles and birds were found using the giant armadillos' burrows on the same day, including the rare short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis. Because of this, the species is considered a habitat engineer, and the local extinction of Priodontes may have cascading effects in the mammalian community by impoverishing fossorial habitat.
Evidence points to only giving birth once every three years. Although they have never bred in captivity, a wild-born giant armadillo at San Antonio Zoo was estimated to have been around sixteen years old when it died. In addition, live giant armadillos are frequently captured for trade on the black market, and invariably die during transportation or in captivity. This is further exacerbated by habitat loss resulting from deforestation. Without intervention, this trend is likely to continue.
