Chaetophractus villosus (Cingulata: Chlamyphoridae)

Abstract

Chaetophractus villosus (Desmarest, 1804) is commonly known as the large hairy armadillo. It is one of two living species of Chaetophractus. Like all armadillos, it bears a dorsal carapace of ossified dermal scutes covered by epidermal scales. Dorsal hair is sparse, long, and black and brown. This semifossorial armadillo inhabits grasslands, savannas, steppes, forests, and even degraded areas such as agroecosystems of Argentina, the "Gran Chaco"of Bolivia and Paraguay, and southern Chile. Chaetophractus villosus is omnivorous-carnivorous. It is listed as "Least Concern"(LC) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, and is mainly affected by hunting, persecution as an agricultural pest, and vehicle collisions.