File:Priodontes_maximus_at_Régina.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Species
Vulnerablevia IUCN
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Priodontes
- Mass
- 113
- Image
- Priodontes maximus at Régina.jpg
Show 12 more facts
- taxon rank
- species
- IUCN conservation status
- Vulnerable
- taxon name
- Priodontes maximus
- Commons category
- Priodontes maximus
- Commons gallery
- Priodontes maximus
- taxon common name
- veliki pasavec
- gestation period
- 4
- litter size
- 1
- longest observed lifespan
- 15
- CITES Appendix
- Appendix I of CITES
- taxon range
- Sena Madureira
- short name
- P. maximus
via Wikidata · CC0
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Encyclopedic overview
The giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), colloquially tatu-canastra, tatou, ocarro or tatú carreta, is the largest living species of armadillo (although their extinct relatives the glyptodonts were much larger). It lives in South America, ranging throughout as far south as northern Argentina. This species is considered vulnerable to extinction.
The giant armadillo prefers termites and some ants as prey, and often consumes the entire population of a termite mound. It also has been known to prey upon worms, larvae and larger creatures, such as spiders and snakes, and plants. Some giant armadillos have been reported to have eaten bees by digging into beehives.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Giant armadillo” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.